Methods and apparatus for using wireless base station antennas to support macro base station MIMO communications with user equipment devices

ABSTRACT

Methods, apparatus, and systems for using multiple antennas located in Citizens Broadcast Radio Service Devices (CBSDs) to communicate with a user equipment device. An exemplary method embodiment includes the steps of: (i) receiving by a macro base station a first set of data to be transmitted to a user equipment device (UE), (iii) dividing by the macro base station said first set of data into a plurality of N data blocks, and (iv) communicating by the macro base station to each of a plurality of different Citizens Broadband Radio Service Devices (CBSDs) one or more different ones of said plurality of N data blocks; and (v) operating the plurality of CBSDs to transmit the one or more data blocks which they receive from the macro base station to the UE. In various embodiments, the macro base station also transmits one or more of the N data blocks to the UE.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 16/207,162 filed on Dec. 2, 2018 which published as U.S. PatentApplication Publication Number: US 2020-0178089 Al on Jun. 4, 2020 whichis hereby expressly incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for usingantennas at both Citizens Broadband Radio Service Devices (CBSDs) inCitizen Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) network and macro base stationsto transfer data to user devices. The present invention further relatesto methods and apparatus for utilizing multiple antennas of CBSD devicesand macro base stations to perform Multiple-Input and Multiple-Output(MIMO) data transmissions to wireless user devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In a Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) network, Citizens BroadbandRadio Service Devices (CBSDs) serve as access points which can supportcommunications between a user equipment device (UE) and a serviceprovider network. Multiple-Input and Multiple-Output (MIMO) transmissiontakes advantage of multiple antennas and spatial diversity of theantennas to support communication to/from a device.

Macro base stations often include several antennas and can in many casessupport limited MIMO operation. However, to support communication ofrelatively large amounts of data to/from a user equipment device (UE) itwould be highly desirable if greater spatial diversity could be achievedthan is possible from simply using an antenna array directly coupled toa macro base station.

In many areas CBRS communication is expected to be supported incommunications areas which are within a coverage area of a macro basestation. In such system CBSDs may use the same frequency spectrum as themacro base station but are expected in many cases to communicate using adifferent communications protocol than is used by the macro basestation. CBSDs are likely to be distributed, e.g., positioned at variousdifferent locations in the macro base station coverage area with CBSDoperation being controlled, at least partially under direction of aSpectrum Access System (SAS).

It would be desirable if methods and/or apparatus could be developedwhich would allow the infrastructure being deployed to support CBRScommunication to also be used to facilitate macro network communicationof data to and/or from UEs. In this way antennas and/or other equipmentwhich might not be fully utilized if used simply for CBRS communicationcould be used to enhance and/or otherwise facilitate macro networkcommunication.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to methods, systems and apparatus for amacro base station to use multiple antennas to communicate with a userequipment device, e.g., a mobile device. More particular the presentinvention relates to methods, systems and apparatus for a macro basestation to utilize antennas of Citizens Broadband Radio Services Devices(CBSDs) in a Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) network to wirelesscommunicate with a user equipment device, e.g., a mobile communicationsdevice. The user device being a dual Subscriber Identity Module devicethat allows it to communicate with both the macro base station which ispart of a first network, e.g., a MVNO network, and CBSDs in a secondnetwork, i.e., a CBRS network. One or more embodiments of the presentinvention are directed to solving the aforementioned problems.

An exemplary method embodiment of present invention includes the stepsof: (i) operating a first macro base station to receive a first set ofdata to be transmitted to a first user equipment device (UE); (ii)operating the first macro base station to divide said first set of datainto a plurality of N data blocks; (iii) operating the first macro basestation to communicate to each of a plurality of different CitizensBroadband Radio Service Devices (CBSDs) one or more different ones ofsaid plurality of N data blocks; and (iv) operating the plurality ofCBSDs to transmit the one or more data blocks which they receive fromthe first macro base station to the first UE. The first macro basestation may, and typically does, communicate one or more of the N datablocks to the first UE device.

An exemplary method embodiment of present invention includes the stepsof: (i) operating a first macro base station to receive a first set ofdata to be transmitted to a first user equipment device (UE) (ii)operating the first macro base station to divide said first set of datainto a plurality of N data blocks; (iii) operating the first macro basestation to communicate to each of a plurality of different CitizensBroadband Radio Service Devices (CBSDs) one or more different ones ofsaid plurality of N data blocks; and (iv) operating the plurality ofCBSDs to transmit the one or more data blocks which they receive fromthe first macro base station to the first UE. The first macro basestation may, and typically does, communicate one or more of the N datablocks to the first UE device.

The CBSDs and the first macro base station may and typically do use thesame frequency spectrum. In some embodiments, the first macro basestation is part of a macro network, e.g., (LTE network) and the CBSDsare part of a Citizens Broadcast Radio Service (CBRS) network. In theexemplary embodiment, the first UE is a dual Subscriber Identity Module(SIM) card UE capable of communicating with the first macro networkusing a mobile identity corresponding to a first Subscriber IdentityModule (SIM) card and communicating with a CBRS network including theCBSD using a mobile identity corresponding to the second SubscriberIdentity Module (SIM) card.

The exemplary method may, and typically does, include the additionalstep of operating the first macro base station to encode each of the Ndata blocks using an orthogonal code prior to performing said step ofcommunicating to each of a plurality of different CBSDs one or moredifferent ones of said plurality of N data blocks. That is each block iscoded so that it is independent of the other blocks for purposes oftransmission from different CBSDs before it is communicated over the X2connection to the CBSDs.

In some embodiments of the method, the method includes operating thefirst UE to report Physical Cell Identities (PCIs) of macro basestations from which first UE receive signals, said PCI of macro basestations including the PCI of the first macro base station and operatinga Spectrum Access System (SAS) to determine from PCI informationreported by said first UE, CBSDs in the coverage area of said firstmacro base station. The SAS may, and sometimes does, instruct the CBSDsin the coverage area of the first macro base station to establish X2connections with the first macro base station.

In some embodiments the CBSDs in the coverage area of said first macrobase station is operated to establish X2 connections with said firstmacro base station. Typically, the first macro base station measures thelatency of X2 connections to the CBSDs with which X2 connections areestablished and communicates one or more data blocks to individual CBSDsin the plurality of different CBSDs in an order based on the latency ofan individual X2 connection between the first macro base station and theindividual CBSD to which the individual X2 communication corresponds.The order of the data block transmission over the X2 connections beingfrom highest X2 connection latency to lowest X2 connection latency. Inmany embodiments, ping operations are used to measure the X2 connectionlink latency which may be and typically is an average link latency.

In most, but not all embodiments, the first macro base stationdetermines the total number of antennas to be used to communicate datato said first UE. The total number of antennas is then used by the macrobase station to determine a size of a set of data, to be requested froma macro network core, for transmission to the first UE based on thenumber of antennas available for use in transmitting to the first UE.The number of antennas available for use in transmitting including atleast some CBSD antennas at CBSDs having X2 connections with the firstmacro base station and in typically the number of antennas the macrobase station has available for communicating with the first UE.

The present invention is applicable to apparatus and system embodimentswherein one or more devices implement the steps of the methodembodiments. In some apparatus embodiments each of CBDS, user equipmentdevices, SAS devices, registrars, macro base stations and each of theother apparatus/devices of the system include one or more processorsand/or hardware circuitry, input/output interfaces including receiversand transmitters, antennas and a memory. The memory includinginstructions when executed by the processor control the apparatus/deviceof the system to operate to perform the steps of various methodembodiments of the invention.

The present invention is also applicable to and includes apparatus andsystems such as for example, apparatus and systems that implement thesteps of the method embodiments. An exemplary communications systemincludes: a first macro base station; and a plurality of differentCitizens Broadband Radio Service Devices (CBSDs); the first macro basestation including one or more processors that control the first macrobase station to: (i) receive a first set of data to be transmitted to afirst user equipment device (UE), (ii) divide said first set of datainto a plurality of N data blocks, and (iii) communicate to each of aplurality of different Citizens Broadband Radio Service Devices (CBSDs)one or more different ones of said plurality of N data blocks; and (iv)each of said plurality of CBSDs including one or more processors thatcontrol the CBSD to transmit the one or more data blocks which the CBSDreceives from the first macro base station to the first UE. In someembodiments, the first macro base station keeps and sends one or more ofthe N data blocks so the number of blocks communicated to CBSDs can beless than N with the first macro base station transmitting at least oneblock, each CBSD can receive more than one data block with Ncorresponding to the N number of antennas which will be used toseparately transmit data including the antennas of the first macro basestation and the CBSDs.

While various embodiments have been discussed in the summary above, itshould be appreciated that not necessarily all embodiments include thesame features and some of the features described above are not necessarybut can be desirable in some embodiments. Numerous additional features,embodiments and benefits of various embodiments are discussed in thedetailed description which follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary communications system in accordance withone embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a macro base station record containing informationabout CBSDs with X2 connections to the macro base station as while asinformation about the X2 connections.

FIG. 3 illustrates details of an exemplary macro base station, e.g., LTEeNodeB, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates details of an exemplary Citizens Broadband RadioService Device (CBSD) in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 illustrates details of an exemplary User Equipment (UE) device inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates details of an exemplary Spectrum Access System (SAS)in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary assembly of components for a CBSD inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary assembly of components for a userequipment device in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary assembly of components for a SAS devicein accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 illustrates the combination of FIGS. 10A, 10B and 10C.

FIG. 10A illustrates the steps of the first part of an exemplarycommunications method in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 10B illustrates the steps of the second part of an exemplarycommunications method in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 10C illustrates the steps of a third part of an exemplarycommunications method in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 11 illustrates the combination of FIGS. 11A and 11B.

FIG. 11A illustrates the steps of the first part of an exemplarycommunications method in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 11B illustrates the steps of the second part of an exemplarycommunications method in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 12 illustrates an exemplary communications system in accordancewith an embodiment of present invention.

FIG. 13 illustrates the use of the multiple macro base station and CBSDsantennas to communicate with the user equipment device of the exemplarycommunications system illustrated in FIG. 12 .

FIG. 14 illustrates the use of ping operations to determine, e.g.,measure, an X2 connections average connection/link latency.

FIG. 15 illustrates an exemplary assembly of components for a macro basestation in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The current invention is applicable to communications methods andsystems implemented in wireless networks and in particular to CitizensBroadband Radio Service networks. More particularly the invention isapplicable to systems which use multiple antennas both at CitizensBroadband Radio Service Devices (CBSDs) and macro base station (e.g.,eNodeB) of a first wireless network provider, e.g., macro Mobile VirtualNetwork Operator (MVNO) of a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network, toprovide wireless communications services to user devices, e.g., mobiledevices, mobile phones, laptops, tablets, computers, vehicles, drones,etc. that support wireless communications with the CBSDs of the CBRSnetwork as well as communications with the macro base station of thefirst wireless network (e.g., MVNO LTE network). The invention furtherrelates to methods and apparatus for using CBSD antennas to supportmacro base station Massive In Massive Out (MIMO) communication with userequipment devices. As discussed above, MIMO transmissions take advantageof multiple antennas and spatial diversity of the antennas to supportcommunications to/from a device, e.g., user device.

Citizens Broadband Radio Service networks are networks that includeCitizens Broadband Radio Service Devices (CBSDs) which serve as accesspoints/base stations, Spectrum Access Systems which provides spectrumassignments and manages frequency interference through power managementof the CBSDs transmission power, and user equipment. User equipmentdevices being user devices used for communications over the CBRS networkand include for example computers, mobile or wireless devices such asfor example cell phones, smart phones, laptops, tablets, vehicles (e.g.,cars, trucks, airplanes, trains, drone, airplanes, etc.) with wirelesscommunications equipment (e.g., antennas, receivers, transmitters,sensors, processors, memory for wireless communications), etc. The sizeof a user device determining the number of antennas and the spatial anddirectional diversity of antennas arrangement that can be utilized withlarger devices able to include more antennas with more spatial anddirectional diversity than smaller devices. For example, a greaternumber of antennas can be arranged so that the antennas have a greaterspatial (different spacings) and directional diversity (e.g., pointingin different directions) on a truck than a mobile phone due to thetruck's larger size. This results in the user device of the truck havinga larger number of antennas and greater spatial and directionaldiversity than the smaller mobile phone whose number of antennas andtheir direction and spacing is limited by its smaller size.

The Citizens Broadband Radio Service network utilizes the 150 megahetzin the 3550-3700 MHz band referred to as the 3.5 GHz Band. The CBRSnetwork includes Spectrum Access Systems that obtain information aboutregistered or licensed commercial users in the 3.5 GHz band from FCCdatabases and information about federal incumbent users of the band fromESC (Environmental Sensing Capability) system and interact directly orindirectly with CBSDs operating in the band to ensure that CitizensBroadband Radio Service users operate in a manner consistent with theirauthorizations and promote efficient use of the spectrum resource. Amongthe Spectrum Access System functions as defined in the Amendment of theCommission's Rules with Regard to Commercial Operations in the 3550-3650MHz Band released Apr. 21, 2015 are that: it determines the availablefrequencies at a given geographic location and assign them to CBSDs; itdetermines the maximum permissible transmission power level for CBSDs ata given location and communicates that information to the CBSDs; itregisters and authenticates the identification information and locationof CBSDs; it enforces exclusion and protection zones, including anyfuture changes to such Zones, to ensure compatibility between CitizensBroadband Radio Service users and incumbent federal operations; itprotects Priority Access Licensees (PAL) from impermissible interferencefrom other Citizens Broadband Radio Service users; ensures secure andreliable transmission of information between the SAS, ESC, and CBSDs;and it facilitates coordination and information exchange between SASs.Through the management of the CBSDs power transmission levels in ageographical area the SAS manages the radio interference in thegeographical area.

The Citizens Broadband Radio Service network utilizes the 150 megahetzin the 3550-3700 MHz band referred to as the 3.5 GHz Band. Macro basestations, e.g., LTE eNodeB base stations, of wireless networks alsooperate in the 3.5 GHz band.

One exemplary communications system used to implement an exemplaryembodiment in accordance with the present invention is shown in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary communications system 100 having anarchitecture implemented in accordance with the present invention. Thecommunications system 100 includes a Mobile Virtual Network Operator(MVNO) Network including a macro base station 102, e.g., eNodeB, and aMVNO core network 104 and a CBRS network including SAS 1 116, CBSDdevice 1 106 . . . . CBSD device X 108 (where X is a positive integernumber), CBSD operator network core 112 and a user equipment device (UE1) 110.

The UE 1 110 is a dual SIM (subscriber identity module) user equipmentdevice that communicates with both the macro base station 102 of theMVNO network and CBSD 1 106 CSBD X devices of the in the CBRS network.While only one user equipment device is shown for simplicity it is to beunderstood that he CBRS network has one or more user equipment devices.Similarly while only one macro base station is shown in the system 100it is to be understood that the MVNO network may and typically doesinclude a plurality of macro base stations.

The macro base station 102 may be for example, an LTE eNodeB basestation of a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) Network, e.g., aeNodeB owned by a service operator such as Verizon or TMobile. In somesituations, the CBRS network operator may have entered into an agreementfor use of the MVNO network by the CBRS network operator to providevoice and data services in exchange for payment. In such cases the CBRSnetwork operator will desire to use the MVNO network over the airresources as little as possible and to use the CBRS over the airresources whenever possible to avoid having to incur costs and/orexpenses with the usage of the MVNO network. This is particularly thecase when the CBRS network operator is performing data transfer to userequipment devices. To increase the usage of the CBRS network whileminimizing the usage of the MVNO network the CBRS network operator mayutilize massive or advanced multiple input multiple output (MIMO)features which utilizes multiple antennas to transmit data to multipleusers at the same time. The massive MIMO or advanced MIMO features useslarge numbers of antennas to transmit data to users. This allows for anincreased quality of experience by increasing the data speed in thedownlink. One of the main problems is that because of the power andspace limitations a single MVNO macro base station, e.g., eNodeB, doesnot hold a large number of antennas, e.g., hundreds of antennas. Asolution to this problem is to use CBSD antennas together with the MVNOmacro base station antennas to create a massive MIMO or advance MIMOscenario. In such cases, the user devices, e.g., mobile devices, need tohave dual-sim cards enabling the user devices to communicate with boththe macro base station of the MVNO network and the CBSDs of the CBRSnetwork. The subscribers of the user devices register in both the CBRSnetwork and the service operator network (MVNO) network so that they canreceive service from either network during the same time period. Themassive MIMO or advanced MIMO operation is then triggered by the SASservice depending on the location of the user device, the amount of datathat needs to be transmitted to the user device and the number ofantennas reported by the CBSDs in communication with the user device towhich service is being provided.

The MVNO network core 104 includes a registrar 120 and network serviceswith data 118 for UE 1 110. The MVNO network coupled is coupled to theCBSD operator network core 112 with a communication link 170. The CSBDoperator network core includes registrar 114 and network services 115.CBSD 1 is coupled to the SAS 1

The MVNO network includes a MVNO network core 104 including a registrar120, e.g., Home Subscriber Server (HSS), and a macro base station 102,e.g., eNodeB 102, which is connected to the MVNO network core 104 viaS1/X2 interface connection 144 and a communication link. Thecommunications link may be wired and/or wireless. When a wiredcommunications link is utilized it is typically a high capacity wiredcable or fiber optical cable. While only one macro base station 102 isillustrated, it is to be understood that the MVNO network typically hasnumerous macro base stations. The UE 1 110 is a dual subscriber identitycard device with a subscriber identity module (SIM) card for wirelesscommunication with the macro base station, eNodeB 102 as well as withCBSDs CBSD 1 106 and CBSD X 10, i.e., UE 1 110 is a dual SIM card devicethat can communicate with both the CBSD(s) of the CBRS network and macrobase station(s) of the MVNO network. The UE 1 110 is within the coveragearea of CBSD 1 106, CBSD X 108 and the macro base station 102 of theMVNO network. The MVNO network in this example is a Long Term Evolution(LTE) Evolved Packet Core Network which operates in the same frequencyspectrum as the CBRS network frequency spectrum.

The exemplary CBRS network of system 100 includes Citizens BroadcastRadio Service Device (CBSD) 1 106, CBSD X 108, Spectrum Access Systemdevice 116, and a user equipment (UE) device UE 1 110 as well as CBSDoperator network core sometimes referred to as the CBSD or CBRS corenetwork. The CBSD 1 106 is connected or coupled to SAS 1 116 viacommunications link 148 and to the second operator network core 112which is the CBSD operator network core via via an S1/X2interface/connection 150 and a communications link. The CBSD X 108 iscoupled or connected to the SAS 1 116 via communication link 172 and tothe second operator network 112 which is the CBSD operator network corevia S1/X2 interface/connection 146 and a communications link. The SAS 1is coupled to the second operator network 112 via communications link174. The SAS 1 is coupled to the first operator network 104 viacommunications link 152.

The first operator, e.g., MVNO, network core 104 is coupled or connectedto the second operator, CBSD operator, core network 112 viacommunications link 170.

Communications links 148, 150, 152 and 174 are typically wired or fiberoptic communications links. The second operator is the same operatorthat operates CBSD 1 and CBSD X and is sometimes referred to as the CBSDoperator with the second operator network core 112 sometimes beingreferred to as the CBSD operator network core.

The MVNO network core 104 includes a registrar 120 and network serviceswith data for UE 118. The CBSD operator network core 112 includes aregistrar 114, e.g., Home Subscriber Server (HSS), and network servicesequipment 115.

The macro base station 102 in some embodiments is an LTE macro basestation, e.g., eNodeB base station. The macro base station typicallyincludes one or more receivers, transmitters, antennas and processorswith the one or more processors controlling the operation of the macrobase station. The macro base station 102 includes a plurality ofantennas 122, 124, 126 and 128.

CBSD 1 106 includes antennas 130 and 132. CBSD 1 106 is connected orcoupled to the macro base station 102 via X2 interface/connection 140.CBSD X 108 includes antennas 136 and 138. CBSD X 108 is connected orcoupled to the macro base station 102 via X2 interface/connection 142.Dashed line 154 shows the transmission and wireless communication ofdata from CBSD 1 106 antenna 130 to UE 110. Dashed line 156 shows thetransmission and wireless communication of data from CBSD 1 106 antenna132 to UE 110. Dashed line 158 shows the transmission and wirelesscommunication of data from the macro base station 102 antenna 122 to UE110. Dashed line 160 shows the transmission and wireless communicationof data from macro base station 102 antenna 124 to UE 110. Dashed line162 shows the transmission and wireless communication of data from macrobase station 102 antenna 126 to UE 110. Dashed line 164 shows thetransmission and wireless communication of data from macro base station102 antenna 128 to UE 110. Dashed line 166 shows the transmission andwireless communication of data from CBSD X 108 antenna 136 to UE 110.Dashed line 168 shows the transmission and wireless communication ofdata from CBSD X 108 antenna 138 to UE 110. The dashed lines 154, 156,158, 160, 162, 164, 166 and 168 also represent the communications linksand/or communications channels, e.g., radio channels, over which themacro base station 102, CBSD 1 106 and CBSD X 108 communicate with UE 1110.

UE 1 110 includes antenna 134 for wireless communications with CBSD 1106, CBSD X 108 and macro base station 102. The antenna 134 can be anassembly of antennas that include multiple antennas such as for example8 antennas or can be an antenna array with multiple elements.

While for the sake of simplicity in explaining the invention system 100only illustrates two CBSDs, a single macro base station and a single UEdevice, it will be appreciated that system 100 typically includesnumerous active CBSDs in the CBRS network supporting a plurality of UEdevices and the MVNO network typically includes numerous active macrobase stations. The UE devices in the present invention are dual SIMdevices that can communicate with both the macro base station and theCBSDs.

The devices' X2 interfaces/connections and S1/X2 interfaces/connectionsprovide communications interfaces/connections for the various devices tocommunicate with one another over communications links which may bewired and/or wireless links. Wired links may be, and in some embodimentsare, high capacity fiber optic or cable links.

Elements or steps with the same reference numbers used in differentfigures are the same or similar and those elements or steps will not bedescribed in detail again.

FIG. 3 is a drawing of an exemplary macro base station 300, e.g., aneNodeB, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. The macro basestation 300 includes the capabilities of a 4G Long Term EvolutioneNodeB, a first wireless interface 304, a second wireless interface 364,a network interface 305, e.g., a wired or optical interface, a processor306, e.g., a CPU, an assembly of hardware components 308, e.g., anassembly of circuits, and I/O interface 310 and memory 312 coupledtogether via a bus 309 over which the various elements may interchangedata and information. The macro base station 400 further includes aspeaker 352, a display 353, switches 356, keypad 358 and mouse 359coupled to I/O interface 310, via which the various I/O devices (352,354, 356, 358, 359) may communicate with other elements (304, 306, 308,312) of the macro base station 400. Network interface 305 includes areceiver 378 and a transmitter 380. In some embodiments, receiver 378and transmitter 380 are part of a transceiver 384. Wireless interface304 includes a wireless receiver 338 and a wireless transmitter 340. Insome embodiments, receiver 338 and transmitter 340 are part of atransceiver 324. In various embodiments, wireless interface 304 includesa plurality of wireless receivers and a plurality of wirelesstransmitters. Wireless receiver 338 is coupled to a plurality of receiveantennas (receive antenna 1 339, . . . , receive antenna M 441), viawhich macro base station 400 can receive wireless signal from otherwireless communications devices including a second wirelesscommunications device, e.g., a UE device. Wireless transmitter 340 iscoupled to a plurality of wireless transmit antennas (transmit antenna 1343, . . . , transmit antenna N 345) via which the macro base stationcan transmit signals to other wireless communications devices includinga second wireless communications device, e.g., a UE device.

Wireless interface 364 includes a wireless receiver 370 and a wirelesstransmitter 374. In some embodiments, receiver 370 and transmitter 372are part of a transceiver 368. In various embodiments, wirelessinterface 364 includes a plurality of wireless receivers and a pluralityof wireless transmitters. Wireless receiver 370 is coupled to aplurality of receive antennas (receive antenna 1 373, . . . , receiveantenna M 374), via which macro base station 300 can receive wirelesssignals from other wireless communications devices including a secondwireless communications device, e.g., a CBSD device, another LTE macrobase station (e.g., eNodeB), etc. Wireless transmitter 364 is coupled toa plurality of wireless transmit antennas (transmit antenna 1 375, . . ., transmit antenna N 376) via which the macro base station can transmitsignals to other wireless communications devices including a secondwireless communications device, e.g., a CBSD device, a LTE macro basestation (e.g., eNodeB), etc.

In some embodiments, the first wireless interface is assigned to servicecommunications between the macro base station and user equipment devicesin its coverage area while the second wireless interface is assigned toservice device to device communications between the macro base stationand a CBSD over which an X2 connection may be and in some embodiments isestablished. In some embodiments, only a single wireless interface isutilized.

Memory 312 includes an assembly of component 314, e.g., an assembly ofsoftware components, and data/information 316. Data/information 316includes UE device information corresponding to a plurality of userequipment devices (UE device A information 317, . . . , UE device Ninformation 319 where A to N are the UE devices being serviced by themacro base station 400 for example UE 1 110 as shown in FIG. 1 .Data/information 316 may also include device to device configurationinformation. The macro base station 102 of system 100 may be, and insome embodiments is, implemented in accordance with macro base station300. In such embodiments, the macro base station has four antennas fortransmitting to the UE device. The macro base station 1202 of system1200 may be, and in some embodiments is, implemented in accordance withmacro base station 300. In such embodiments, the macro base station hasfour antennas for transmitting to the UE device.

FIG. 4 is a drawing of an exemplary Citizens Broadband Radio ServiceDevice (CBSD) 400 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. The CBSDdevice 400 includes the capabilities of a CBSD as defined by the FederalCommunications Commission's Rules with Regard to Commercial Operationsin the 3550-3650 MHz Band. Exemplary CBSD device 400 includes anoptional subscriber identification module (SIM) 460, also known as a SIMcard, a first wireless interface 404, a second wireless interface 464, anetwork interface 405, e.g., a wired or optical interface, a processor406, e.g., a CPU, an assembly of hardware components 408, e.g., anassembly of circuits, and I/O interface 410 and memory 412 coupledtogether via a bus 409 over which the various elements may interchangedata and information. CBSD device 400 further includes a speaker 452, adisplay 453, switches 456, keypad 458 and mouse 459 coupled to I/Ointerface 410, via which the various I/O devices (452, 454, 456, 458,459) may communicate with other elements (404, 406, 408, 412) of theCBSD device 400. Network interface 405 includes a receiver 478 and atransmitter 480. In some embodiments, receiver 478 and transmitter 480are part of a transceiver 484. Wireless interface 404 includes awireless receiver 438 and a wireless transmitter 440. In someembodiments, receiver 438 and transmitter 440 are part of a transceiver424. In various embodiments, wireless interface 404 includes a pluralityof wireless receivers and a plurality of wireless transmitters. Wirelessreceiver 438 is coupled to a plurality of receive antennas (receiveantenna 1 439, . . . , receive antenna M 441), via which CBSD device 400can receive wireless signal from other wireless communications devicesincluding a second wireless communications device, e.g., a UE device.Wireless transmitter 440 is coupled to a plurality of wireless transmitantennas (transmit antenna 1 443, . . . , transmit antenna N 445) viawhich the CBSD 400 can transmit signals to other wireless communicationsdevices including a second wireless communications device, e.g., a UEdevice.

Wireless interface 464 includes a wireless receiver 470 and a wirelesstransmitter 474. In some embodiments, receiver 470 and transmitter 472are part of a transceiver 468. In various embodiments, wirelessinterface 464 includes a plurality of wireless receivers and a pluralityof wireless transmitters. Wireless receiver 470 is coupled to aplurality of receive antennas (receive antenna 1 473, . . . , receiveantenna M 474), via which CBSD device 400 can receive wireless signalfrom other wireless communications devices including a second wirelesscommunications device, e.g., another CBSD device, a LTE macro basestation (e.g., eNodeB), etc. Wireless transmitter 464 is coupled to aplurality of wireless transmit antennas (transmit antenna 1 475, . . . ,transmit antenna N 476) via which the CBSD 400 can transmit signals toother wireless communications devices including a second wirelesscommunications device, e.g., another CBSD device, a LTE macro basestation (e.g., eNodeB), etc.

In some embodiments, the first wireless interface is assigned to servicecommunications between the CBSD and user equipment devices in itscoverage area while the second wireless interface is assigned to servicedevice to device communications between the CBSD 400 and another CBSD.In some embodiments, only a single wireless interface is utilized. Insuch cases, the single wireless interface includes a plurality ofantennas with at least one of plurality of antennas being assigned to afirst group of antennas and at least one of the plurality of antennasbeing assigned to a second group of antennas. The first group ofantennas being used or reserved to provide communications between theCBSD 400 and the UEs in its coverage areas and second group of antennasbeing used or reserved to be used for providing device to devicecommunications.

Memory 412 includes an assembly of component 414, e.g., an assembly ofsoftware components, and data/information 416. Data/information 416includes UE device information corresponding to a plurality of userequipment devices (UE device A information 417, . . . , UE device Ninformation 419 where A to N are the UE devices being serviced by theCBSD for example CBSD 1 102 services UE 1 . . . . UE 3 as shown in FIG.1 . Data/information 416 may also include device to device configurationinformation, estimated and/or backhaul capacity requirementsinformation, estimated D2D resource requirements information, measuredD2D resource utilization information and reports.

The SIM card 460 is an integrated circuit that securely stores aninternational mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) number and its relatedkey, which are used to identify and authenticate the CBSD. Through theuse of the SIM card 460 the CBSD appears as a mobile user equipmentdevice (UE) to a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) network. CBSD 1102 and CBSD 2 104 of FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 may be, and in some embodimentsare, implemented in accordance with CBSD 400. In some embodiments, CBSD1 102 which does not have a backhaul connection does not include anetwork interface or in some embodiments the network interface is notconnection to a communications link. In some embodiments, the CBSDsillustrated in FIGS. 1, 12, 13 are implemented in accordance with theexemplary CBSD 400 illustrated in FIG. 4 . In such cases the number ofantennas for transmitting to the UE is shown and/or discussed inconnection with FIGS. 1, 12, and 13 .

FIG. 5 is a drawing of an exemplary user equipment (UE) device 500 inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment. UE device 500 is, e.g., amobile device such as a cell phone, a smart phone, wireless tablet orwireless notebook. UE device 500, in some embodiments, includes LongTerm Evolution (LTE), e.g., 4G LTE, mobile device capabilities.Exemplary UE device 500 includes a wireless interface 504, a processor506, e.g., a CPU, an assembly of hardware components 508, e.g., anassembly of circuits, and I/O interface 510, dual SIM cards 590, andmemory 512 coupled together via a bus 509 over which the variouselements may interchange data and information. UE device 500 furtherincludes a microphone 550, camera 551, speaker 552, a display 553, e.g.,a touch screen display, switches 556, keypad 558 and mouse 559 coupledto I/O interface 510, via which the various I/O devices (550, 551, 552,554, 556, 558, 559) may communicate with other elements (504, 506, 508,512) of the UE device. Network interface 505 includes a receiver 578 anda transmitter 580. In some embodiments, receiver 578 and transmitter 580are part of a transceiver 584. Wireless interface 504 includes awireless receiver 538 and a wireless transmitter 540. In someembodiments, receiver 538 and transmitter 540 are part of a transceiver524. In various embodiments, wireless interface 504 includes a pluralityof wireless receivers and a plurality of wireless transmitters. Wirelessreceiver 538 is coupled to one or more receive antennas (receive antenna1 539, . . . , receive antenna M 541), via which UE device 500 canreceive wireless signals from other wireless communications devicesincluding, e.g., a CBSD device such as CBSD 400. Wireless transmitter540 is coupled to one or more wireless transmit antennas (transmitantenna 1 543, . . . , transmit antenna N 545) via which the UE device500 can transmit signals to other wireless communications deviceincluding a first wireless communications device, e.g., a CBSD 400.Memory 512 includes an assembly of components 514, e.g., an assembly ofsoftware components, and data/information 516. The dual SubscriberIdentity Module (SIM) cards include a first SIM with a first SubscriberIdentity for communicating with a first network, e.g., MVNO LTE macronetwork, and a second SIM with a second Subscriber Identity forcommunicating with a second network, e.g., CBRS network. The userequipment device UE 1 110 of system 100 and the user equipment device1214 of system 1200 may be, and in some embodiments are, implemented inaccordance with exemplary user equipment device 500 with the number ofantennas of the UE as described in connection with the UE 1 110 or UE1214.

FIG. 6 is a drawing of an exemplary Spectrum Access System (SAS) device600 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. The SAS 600 includes thecapabilities of a SAS as defined by the Federal CommunicationsCommission's Rules with Regard to Commercial Operations in the 3550-3650MHz Band. Exemplary SAS device 600 includes a network interface 605,e.g., a wired or optical interface, a processor 606, e.g., a CPU, anassembly of hardware components 608, e.g., an assembly of circuits, andI/O interface 610 and memory 612 coupled together via a bus 609 overwhich the various elements may interchange data and information. SAS 600further includes a speaker 652, a display 653, switches 656, keypad 658and mouse 659 coupled to I/O interface 610, via which the various I/Odevices (652, 654, 656, 658, 659) may communicate with other elements(606, 608, 612) of the SAS 600. Network interface 605 includes areceiver 678 and a transmitter 680. The network interface 605 istypically used to communicate with other SAS devices and CBSD devices.In some embodiments, receiver 678 and transmitter 680 are part of atransceiver 684. Memory 612 includes an assembly of component 614, e.g.,an assembly of software components, and data/information 616.Data/information 616 includes CBSD device information corresponding to aplurality of CBSD devices (e.g., CBSD device 1 106 information, . . . ,CBSD device X 108 information) and information corresponding to one ormore macro base stations, (e.g., macro base station 102. In someembodiments, SAS 1 116 is implemented in accordance with SAS 600. Insome embodiments, SAS 1216 of system 1200 is implemented in accordancewith SAS 600 illustrated in FIG. 6 .

FIG. 7 is a drawing of an exemplary assembly of components 700 which maybe included in an exemplary CBSD device, e.g., exemplary CBSD 400 ofFIG. 4 , in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. The components inthe assembly of components 700 can, and in some embodiments are,implemented fully in hardware within a processor, e.g., processor 406,e.g., as individual circuits. The components in the assembly ofcomponents 700 can, and in some embodiments are, implemented fully inhardware within the assembly of hardware components 408, e.g., asindividual circuits corresponding to the different components. In otherembodiments some of the components are implemented, e.g., as circuits,within processor 406 with other components being implemented, e.g., ascircuits within assembly of components 408, external to and coupled tothe processor 406. As should be appreciated the level of integration ofcomponents on the processor and/or with some components being externalto the processor may be one of design choice. Alternatively, rather thanbeing implemented as circuits, all or some of the components may beimplemented in software and stored in the memory 412 of the CBSD device400, with the components controlling operation of CBSD device 400 toimplement the functions corresponding to the components when thecomponents are executed by a processor e.g., processor 406. In some suchembodiments, the assembly of components 700 is included in the memory412 as assembly of software components 414. In still other embodiments,various components in assembly of components 700 are implemented as acombination of hardware and software, e.g., with another circuitexternal to the processor providing input to the processor which thenunder software control operates to perform a portion of a component'sfunction.

When implemented in software the components include code, which whenexecuted by a processor, e.g., processor 406, configure the processor toimplement the function corresponding to the component. In embodimentswhere the assembly of components 700 is stored in the memory 412, thememory 412 is a computer program product comprising a computer readablemedium comprising code, e.g., individual code for each component, forcausing at least one computer, e.g., processor 406, to implement thefunctions to which the components correspond.

Completely hardware based or completely software based components may beused. However, it should be appreciated that any combination of softwareand hardware, e.g., circuit implemented components may be used toimplement the functions. As should be appreciated, the componentsillustrated in FIG. 7 control and/or configure the CBSD device 400 orelements therein such as the processor 406, to perform the functions ofcorresponding steps illustrated and/or described in the method of one ormore of the flowcharts, signaling diagrams and/or described with respectto any of the Figures. Thus the assembly of components 700 includesvarious components that perform functions of corresponding one or moredescribed and/or illustrated steps of an exemplary method.

Assembly of components 700 includes a control routines component 702,message generator component 704, device to device connection component706, a CBSD network core registration component 708, SAS registrationcomponent 710, X2 connection component 712, request UE report number ofantennas component 714, request UE report PCIs of macro base stationsfrom which signals are being received component 716, and component fordetermining and/or reporting number of CBSD antennas available forcommunication with UE.

The control routines component 702 is configured to control operation ofthe CBSD. The message generator component 704 is configured to generatemessages for transmission to other devices including requests, responseand report messages, e.g., registration request messages, X2 connectionsetup message, device to device setup messages, connection and teardownmessage, command messages to be sent to UE, messages to be sent to SAS,data blocks to be sent to the UE.

The device to device connection component 706 controls the CBSD toestablish, maintain, and tear down device to device connections such asthe device to device connection between CBSD 1 106 and CBSD X 108 orCBSD 1 106 and macro base station 102. The CBSD core registrationcomponent 708 registers the CBSD with the CBSD operator network core.SAS registration component 710 registers the CBSD with the SAS, e.g.,SAS 1 116. The X2 connection component 212 establishes X2 connectione.g., with the macro base station 102 or other devices, e.g., otherCBSDs. The request UE report number of antennas component 714 generatesand handles requests to be sent to UEs requesting that the receiving UEreport the number of antennas it has for communications, e.g., forreceiving data communications. The request UE report PCI of receivedmacro base stations component 716 generates and handles requests to besent to UE requesting the UE report the PCIs of all macro base stationsfrom which the UE is receiving a signal. The antenna determination andreport component 718 determines and/or reports the number of antennasthe CBSD has available for transmitting data to a UE.

FIG. 15 is a drawing of an exemplary assembly of components 1500 whichmay be included in an exemplary CBSD device, e.g., exemplary CBSD 300 ofFIG. 3 , in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. The components inthe assembly of components 1500 can, and in some embodiments are,implemented fully in hardware within a processor, e.g., processor 306,e.g., as individual circuits. The components in the assembly ofcomponents 1500 can, and in some embodiments are, implemented fully inhardware within the assembly of hardware components 308, e.g., asindividual circuits corresponding to the different components. In otherembodiments some of the components are implemented, e.g., as circuits,within processor 306 with other components being implemented, e.g., ascircuits within assembly of components 408, external to and coupled tothe processor 306. As should be appreciated the level of integration ofcomponents on the processor and/or with some components being externalto the processor may be one of design choice. Alternatively, rather thanbeing implemented as circuits, all or some of the components may beimplemented in software and stored in the memory 212 of the CBSD device300, with the components controlling operation of CBSD device 300 toimplement the functions corresponding to the components when thecomponents are executed by a processor e.g., processor 306. In some suchembodiments, the assembly of components 300 is included in the memory312 as assembly of software components 414. In still other embodiments,various components in assembly of components 300 are implemented as acombination of hardware and software, e.g., with another circuitexternal to the processor providing input to the processor which thenunder software control operates to perform a portion of a component'sfunction.

When implemented in software the components include code, which whenexecuted by a processor, e.g., processor 306, configure the processor toimplement the function corresponding to the component. In embodimentswhere the assembly of components 1500 is stored in the memory 312, thememory 312 is a computer program product comprising a computer readablemedium comprising code, e.g., individual code for each component, forcausing at least one computer, e.g., processor 306, to implement thefunctions to which the components correspond.

Completely hardware based or completely software based components may beused. However, it should be appreciated that any combination of softwareand hardware, e.g., circuit implemented components may be used toimplement the functions. As should be appreciated, the componentsillustrated in FIG. 15 control and/or configure the macro base station300 or elements therein such as the processor 306, to perform thefunctions of corresponding steps illustrated and/or described in themethod of one or more of the flowcharts, signaling diagrams and/ordescribed with respect to any of the Figures. Thus the assembly ofcomponents 1500 includes various components that perform functions ofcorresponding one or more described and/or illustrated steps of anexemplary method.

Assembly of components 1500 includes a control routines component ‘502,message generator component 1504, data set size component 1506, a macronetwork core registration component 1508, SAS registration component1510, X2 connection component 1512, request UE report number of antennascomponent 1514, request UE report PCIs of CBSDs from which signals arebeing received component 1516, antenna determination component 1518, anda data encoding component 1520, X2 connection delay component 1522,ranking and/or ordering of X2 connections for data transmission to CBSDscomponent 1524.

The control routines component 1502 is configured to control operationof the macro base station. The message generator component 1504 isconfigured to generate messages for transmission to other devicesincluding requests, response and report messages, e.g., registrationrequest messages, X2 connection setup message, device to device setupmessages, connection and teardown message, command messages to be sentto UE, messages to be sent to SAS, data blocks to be sent to UEs.

The data set size component 1506 determines the data set size to berequested from the macro network based on the number of antennasdetermined as being available for use in communicating to the UE towhich the data is to be provided. The macro network core registrationcomponent 1508 registers the macro base station with the macro corenetwork, e.g., the macro core network registrar of the macro network.SAS registration component 1510 registers the macro base station withthe SAS, e.g., SAS 1 116. The X2 connection component 1512 establishesX2 connection e.g., with the CBSDs and/or other devices, e.g., othermacro base stations, network components. The request UE report number ofantennas component 1514 generates and handles requests to be sent to UEsrequesting that the receiving UE report the number of antennas it hasfor communications, e.g., for receiving data communications. The requestUE report PCI of received CBSDs component 1516 generates and handlesrequests to be sent to UEs requesting the UE report the PCIs of allCBSDs from which the UE is receiving a signal. The antenna determinationcomponent 1518 determines the number of antennas available fortransmitting data to a UE, e.g., macro base station and CBSDs' antennaswhich are available for transmitting data to a UE. The data encodingcomponent 1520 encodes blocks or segments of data to be sent to a UEdevice in a manner in which each block is coded so that it isindependent of the other data blocks of data for purposes oftransmission to a UE. The data encoding component 1520 in someembodiments uses orthogonal coding. The X2 connection delay component1522 determines the X2 connection/link delay for each of the X2connections established between the macro base station and a CBSD. Insome embodiments X2 connection delay component 1522 determines the X2connection/link delay based on the measured average X2 connection/linklatency measured using ping packets. The ranking and/or ordering of X2connections for data transmission to CBSDs component 1524 ranks the X2connections to be used to transmit data blocks to CBSDs for transmissionby the CBSDs to a UE based on the determined X2 connection link latencyand orders the data block transmission based on the X2 connection/linklatency. For example, X2 connections with larger X2 delays or latencieswill be ranked and then ordered so that data is transmitted over thoseX2 connections before transmission of data over X2 connections whichhave smaller X2 connection/link delays or latencies.

FIG. 8 is a drawing of an exemplary assembly of components 800 which maybe included in an exemplary user equipment (UE) device, e.g., UE device500 of FIG. 5 , in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. Thecomponents in the assembly of components 800 can, and in someembodiments are, implemented fully in hardware within a processor, e.g.,processor 506, e.g., as individual circuits. The components in theassembly of components 800 can, and in some embodiments are, implementedfully in hardware within the assembly of hardware components 508, e.g.,as individual circuits corresponding to the different components. Inother embodiments some of the components are implemented, e.g., ascircuits, within processor 506 with other components being implemented,e.g., as circuits within assembly of components 508, external to andcoupled to the processor 506. As should be appreciated the level ofintegration of components on the processor and/or with some componentsbeing external to the processor may be one of design choice.Alternatively, rather than being implemented as circuits, all or some ofthe components may be implemented in software and stored in the memory512 of the UE device 500, with the components controlling operation ofUE device 500 to implement the functions corresponding to the componentswhen the components are executed by a processor e.g., processor 506. Insome such embodiments, the assembly of components 800 is included in thememory 512 as assembly of software components 514. In still otherembodiments, various components in assembly of components 800 areimplemented as a combination of hardware and software, e.g., withanother circuit external to the processor providing input to theprocessor which then under software control operates to perform aportion of a component's function. When implemented in software thecomponents include code, which when executed by a processor, e.g.,processor 506, configure the processor to implement the functioncorresponding to the component. In embodiments where the assembly ofcomponents 800 is stored in the memory 512, the memory 512 is a computerprogram product comprising a computer readable medium comprising code,e.g., individual code for each component, for causing at least onecomputer, e.g., processor 506, to implement the functions to which thecomponents correspond.

Completely hardware based or completely software based components may beused. However, it should be appreciated that any combination of softwareand hardware, e.g., circuit implemented components may be used toimplement the functions. As should be appreciated, the componentsillustrated in FIG. 8 control and/or configure the UE device 500 orelements therein such as the processor 506, to perform the functions ofcorresponding steps illustrated and/or described in the method of one ormore of the flowcharts, signaling diagrams and/or described with respectto any of the Figures. Thus the assembly of components 800 includesvarious components that perform functions of corresponding one or moredescribed and/or illustrated steps of an exemplary method.

Assembly of components 800 includes a control routines component 802, amessage generator component 804, a received PCI macro base stationcomponent 806, received PCI CBSD device component 808, and dual SIMcomponent 810. The control routines component 802 is configured tocontrol operation of the UE. The message generator component 804 isconfigured to generate messages for transmission to macro base stationsand CBSD devices, e.g. session connection requests, service requestssuch as for example video content service requests, etc. The receivedPCI macro base station component 806 identifies the PCIs of macro basestations from which the UE is receiving signals. The received PCI CBSDcomponent 808 identifies the PCIs of CBSD devices from which the UE isreceiving signals. The dual subscriber identity module component 810includes two subscriber identities the first identity allows it tocommunicate with devices and register with the macro network, e.g., basestations and registrar in the macro network, and the second identityallows it to communicate and register with devices in the CBRS network,e.g., CBSDs and CBRS registrar.

FIG. 9 is a drawing of an exemplary assembly of components 900 which maybe included in an exemplary SAS device, e.g., exemplary SAS 600 of FIG.6 , in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. The components in theassembly of components 900 can, and in some embodiments are, implementedfully in hardware within a processor, e.g., processor 606, e.g., asindividual circuits. The components in the assembly of components 900can, and in some embodiments are, implemented fully in hardware withinthe assembly of hardware components 608, e.g., as individual circuitscorresponding to the different components. In other embodiments some ofthe components are implemented, e.g., as circuits, within processor 606with other components being implemented, e.g., as circuits withinassembly of components 608, external to and coupled to the processor606. As should be appreciated the level of integration of components onthe processor and/or with some components being external to theprocessor may be one of design choice. Alternatively, rather than beingimplemented as circuits, all or some of the components may beimplemented in software and stored in the memory 612 of the SAS 600,with the components controlling operation of SAS 600 to implement thefunctions corresponding to the components when the components areexecuted by a processor e.g., processor 606. In some such embodiments,the assembly of components 900 is included in the memory 612 as assemblyof software components 614. In still other embodiments, variouscomponents in assembly of components 900 are implemented as acombination of hardware and software, e.g., with another circuitexternal to the processor providing input to the processor which thenunder software control operates to perform a portion of a component'sfunction.

When implemented in software the components include code, which whenexecuted by a processor, e.g., processor 606, configure the processor toimplement the function corresponding to the component. In embodimentswhere the assembly of components 900 is stored in the memory 612, thememory 612 is a computer program product comprising a computer readablemedium comprising code, e.g., individual code for each component, forcausing at least one computer, e.g., processor 606, to implement thefunctions to which the components correspond.

Completely hardware based or completely software based components may beused. However, it should be appreciated that any combination of softwareand hardware, e.g., circuit implemented components may be used toimplement the functions. As should be appreciated, the componentsillustrated in FIG. 9 control and/or configure the SAS 600 or elementstherein such as the processor 606, to perform the functions ofcorresponding steps illustrated and/or described in the method of one ormore of the flowcharts, signaling diagrams and/or described with respectto any of the Figures. Thus the assembly of components 900 includesvarious components that perform functions of corresponding one or moredescribed and/or illustrated steps of an exemplary method.

Assembly of components 900 includes a control routines component 902, amessage generator component 904, an electromagnetic interferencedetermination component 906, and a power management component 908,spectrum management component 910, registration component 912, anddetermination/identification of CBSDs in coverage range of registeredmacro base station component 914. The control routines component 902 isconfigured to control operation of the SAS. The message generatorcomponent 904 is configured to generate messages for transmission toCBSD devices, e.g., power down instruction messages. The electromagneticinterference determination component is configured to determine actualor potential electromagnetic interference to be caused by wireless,e.g., radio transmission from active CBSD devices or CBSDs devices whichare to become active. The power management component 908 is configuredto manage power transmission levels to maximize usage of spectrum whileminimizing interference. The power management component 908 determinesthe power transmission level reductions for CBSDs when a new CBSD isactivated and added to the CBRS network. The spectrum managementcomponent 910 is configured to manage the allocation of frequencyspectrum in the CBRS network. The registration component 912 handlesregistration of macro base stations and CBSDs. Thedetermination/identification of CBSDs in coverage range of registeredmacro base station component 914 determines and/or identifies the CBSDsin the coverage area or proximity of the CBSDs and determines/selectsand instructs which CBSDs are to setup X2 connections with whichregistered macro base stations.

FIG. 10 , which comprises the combination of FIGS. 10A, 10B, and 10Cillustrates an exemplary communications method 1000 for providing datato a user equipment device through the use of multiple antennas locatedat a macro base station and one or more CBSDs devices. FIG. 10Aillustrates the steps of the first part of the exemplary method 1000 inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10Billustrates the steps of the second part of the exemplary method 1100 inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10Cillustrates the steps of the third part of the exemplary method 1000 inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

For explanatory purposes the exemplary method 1000 will be explained inconnection with the exemplary communications system 100 illustrated inFIG. 1 although it should be understand that the method may beimplemented using other systems and other system configurations then thesystem and configuration illustrated in FIG. 1 . The macro base stationoperates in the same 3.5 GHz band as the CBRS network.

The method 1000 shown in FIG. 10 will now be discussed in detail. Themethod starts in start step 1002 shown on FIG. 10A with the devices insystem 100 being initialized and becoming operational. The CBSDs (CBSD 1106 and CBSD X 108) and macro base station (102) of the system 100register with the SAS 1 116. Registration including providing contactinformation to the SAS 1 116, e.g., Internet Protocol addressinformation. The CBSDs also registers with the CBSD Operator NetworkCore registrar 114 and the macro base station registers with the MVNOnetwork core registrar 120. Operation proceeds from step 1002 to step1004.

In step 1004, a first user equipment device (UE), e.g., UE 1 110illustrated in FIG. 1 , is operated to report the physical cellidentities (PCIs) of macro base stations from which the first UE isreceiving signals, said PCIs including a first macro base station, e.g.,macro base station 102 which may be, and in some embodiments is an LTEeNobeB base station. In some embodiments, step 1006 includes sub-step1008. In sub-step 1008, the first UE is operated to report the physicalcell identities (PCIs) of the macro base stations from which the firstUE receives signals to CBSDs requesting said PCIs from said first UE,e.g., UE 1 110. In the example of system 100, the UE 1 110 reports, i.e.transmits, the PCI of the macro base station 102 to CBSD 1 106 and/orCBSD X 108 as the UE 1 110 is in the coverage area of the macro basestation 102 and receives the PCI of the macro base station in signals itreceives from the macro base station. UE 1 110 is also in the coveragearea of both CBSD 1 106 and CBSD X 108. In some embodiments, the UE 1110 reports the PCI of the macro base station 102 in response to arequest from CBSD 1 106 and/or CBSD X 108 to report all PCIs of macrobase station from which UE 1 102 is receiving signals. Operationproceeds from step 1006 to step 1010.

In step 1010, a spectrum access system (SAS) is operated to determinefrom PCI information reported by the first UE, CBSDs in the coveragearea of the first macro base station. In some embodiments, step 1010includes sub-step 1012. In sub-step 1012, the SAS is operated to receivethe PCI information reported by the first UE from a CBSD that receivedthe PCI information from the first UE. The PCI information is orincludes the PCIs of macro base stations from which the UE 1 110 isreceiving signals. In system 100 the SAS 1 116 receives the PCIinformation from UE 1 110 from CBSD 1 106 and/or CBSD X 108. The PCIinformation received includes the PCI for the macro base station 102.Operation proceeds from step 1010 to step 1014.

In step 1014, the SAS is operated to instruct CBSDs in the coverage areaof the first macro base station to establish X2 connections with thefirst macro base station. The instruction transmitted from the SAS tothe CBSDs may, and in some embodiments does, include contact informationfor the first macro base station, e.g., the IP address of the firstmacro base station. In some embodiments, the macro base station learnsthe IP address of the first macro base station when it registers withthe SAS at which time it may provide its IP address and physical cellidentity. Operation proceeds from step 1014 to step 1016.

In step 1016, the CBSDs in the coverage area of the first macro basestation (CBSD 1 106 and CBSD X 108) are operated to establish X2connections with the first macro base station, e.g., macro base station102, in response to instructions from the SAS, e.g., SAS 1 116.Operation proceeds from step 1016 to step 1018.

In step 1018, the first macro base station is operated to measure thelatency, e.g., average latency, of the X2 connections/links to the CBSDswith which X2 connections are established (e.g, CBSD 1 106 and CBSD X108). The latency of the X2 connections may be, and in some embodimentsare, determined using ping operations. The X2 connection/link latenciesare typically ranked from highest to lowest link X2 connection/linklatency with the results stored in a record in memory wherein the X2connection/link latency is stored in memory in the first macro basestation along with the PCI of the CBSD to which the X2 connection/linkcorresponds. Operation proceeds from step 1018 via connection node A1019 to step 1020 illustrated on FIG. 10B.

In step 1020, the first macro base station is operated to determine thetotal number of antennas to be used to communicate data to the first UE.In some embodiments, step 1020 includes one or more of sub-steps 1022,1024, 1026, 1028, 1030.

In sub-step 1022, the first macro base station is operated to receive areport of the PCIs of the CBSDs with signals being received by the firstUE, e.g., CBSD 1's PCI and CBSD X's PCI.

In sub-step 1024, the first macro base station is operated to determinea plurality of CBSDs with X2 connections to the first macro base stationand whose CBSD PCI information was received from the first UE. In thisexample, the plurality of CBSDs with X2 connections to the first macrobase station 102 and who have established connections with the macrobase station 102 are CBSD 1 106 and CBSD 2 108.

In sub-step 1026, the first macro base station is operated to determinethe number of antennas each of the CBSDs with which an X2 connection hasbeen established and whose CBSD PCI information was received from thefirst UE by the first macro base station has available for communicationwith said first UE. In the example of system 100, the CBSD 1 106 has 2antennas and CBSD X 108 has 2 antennas. In some embodiments, the numberof antennas available for each CBSD to use for communicating with thefirst UE is determined via information transmitted to the first macrobase station from each of the CBSDs. That is each CBSD reports thenumber of available antennas it has for communication with first UE orjust the number of antennas it has for communicating with any UE to thefirst macro base station. In some embodiments, the first macro basestation determines the number of available antennas each CBSD has frommessages received from the SAS, e.g., SAS 1 116. Each CBSD havingreported the number of antennas it has to the SAS for example when itreported the PCIs of the macro base stations the UEs in its coveragearea were receiving signals from.

In sub-step 1028, the first macro base station is operated to determinethe number of antennas the first macro base station has available forcommunicating with the first UE.

In sub-step 1030, the first macro base station is operated to receive,e.g., from the SAS which receives CBSD antenna information from theCBSDs) at the first macro base station information indicating a numberof antennas available for use in transmitting to the first UE at eachCBSD with which an X2 connection is established.

Once the first macro base station has determined the number of antennaseach CBSD has available for communicating with the first UE and thenumber of antennas it has available for communicating with the first UE,it can sum number of antennas to determine the total number of antennasavailable for communicating with the first UE. In the present example,the CBSD 1 106 has 2 antennas (antenna 130 and antenna 132), CBSD X 108has 2 antennas (antenna 136 and antenna 138) and the macro base station102 has 4 antennas (antennas 122, 124, 126 and 128) which can be used tocommunicate with UE 1 110. The macro base station 102 thereforedetermines that there are 8 antennas available for communicating with UE1 110. While UE 1 110 is shown as having a single antenna 441, UE 1 441may have one or more antennas, e.g., 8 antennas, or an antenna array inwhich the antenna has a plurality of elements allowing it to receivesignals from a plurality of different antennas. Operation proceeds fromstep 1020 to step 1032.

In step 1032, the first macro base station is operated to determine asize of a set of data, to be requested from a macro network core, e.g.,MVNO macro network core 104, for transmission to the first UE based onthe number of antennas available for use in transmitting data to thefirst UE, said number of antennas available for use in transmitting datato the first UE including at least some CBSD antennas at CBSDs having X2connections with the first macro base station. In this example, theNetwork Services with data for UE 118 in MVNO Network Core 104represents the apparatus/service from which the data will be requestedby the first macro base station 102. In this example, the size of theset of data is determined based on 8 antennas determined to be availablefor communicating with the first UE, e.g., UE 1 110. Operation proceedsfrom step 1032 to step 1034.

In step 1034 the first macro base station is operated to request a firstset of data for transmission to the first UE, e.g., from NetworkServices 118 of MVNO network core 104. The request for the first set ofdata including information on the determined size of the set of data.Operation proceeds from step 1034 to step 1036.

In step 1036, the first macro base station is operated to receive thefirst set of data to be transmitted to the first user equipment device(UE) in response to the request for the first set of data from the macronetwork core, e.g., request to network services 118 of MVNO network core104. Operation proceeds from step 1036 via connection node B 1038 tostep 1040 illustrated on FIG. 10C.

In step 1040, the first macro base station is operated to allocate,e.g., divide, the first set of data into a plurality of N data blocks,the N number of data blocks being equal to the number of antennas to beused to communicate to the first UE. In this example, N=8 as there are 8antennas. Operation proceeds from step 1040 to step 1042.

In step 1042, the first macro base station is operated to encode each ofthe N data blocks using an orthogonal code wherein each block is codedso that it is independent of the other blocks for purposes oftransmission from different CBSDs. Operation proceeds from step 1042 tostep 1044.

In step 1044, the first macro base station is operated to communicate toeach of a plurality of different Citizen Broadband Radio Service devices(CBSDs) one or more different ones of said plurality of N data blocks.The plurality of different CBSDs being CBSDs with which X2 connectionsare established with the first macro base station and have PCIs reportedto the first macro base by the first UE indicating that the first UE isreceiving signals from these CBSDs. In this example, the plurality ofdifferent CBSDs includes CBSD 1 106 and CBSD X 108. In some embodiments,step 1044 includes one or more sub-steps 1046, 1048, 1050, and 1052.

In sub-step 1046, the first macro base station is operated tocommunicate the one or more of said plurality of N data blocks to theplurality of different CBSDs over X2 interface connections/links betweenthe first macro base station and the plurality of different CBSDs.

In sub-step 1048, the first macro base station is operated tocommunicate data blocks to CBSDs in an order based on the latency of theX2 connection between the first macro base station and the CBSD, e.g.,data blocks are sent to CBSDs in the order of highest to lowest X2connection latency.

In sub-step 1050, the first macro base station is operated tocommunicate blocks of data to individual CBSDs in said plurality ofdifferent CBSDs in an order based on the latency or average latency ofan individual X2 connection/link between the first macro base stationand the individual CBSD to which the individual X2 connectioncorresponds.

In sub-step 1052, the first macro base station is operated tocommunicate blocks of data to CBSDs with X2 connections/links havinghigher connection/link latency prior to CBSDs having X2connections/links having a lower link latency.

Operation proceeds from step 1044 to step 1054. In step 1054, theplurality of different CBSDs are operated to transmit the one or moredata blocks which they receive from the first macro base station to thefirst UE. Operation proceeds from step 1054 to step 1056.

In step 1056, the process is repeated for additional sets of datacommunications to the same or other UEs attached to the first macro basestation.

FIG. 11 , which comprises the combination of FIGS. 11A and 11Billustrates an exemplary communications method 1100 for providing datato a user equipment device through the use of multiple antennas locatedat a macro base station and one or more CBSDs devices. FIG. 11Aillustrates the steps of the first part of the exemplary method 1100 inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11Billustrates the steps of the second part of the exemplary method 1100 inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

For explanatory purposes the exemplary method 1100 will be explained inconnection with the exemplary communications system 100 illustrated inFIG. 1 although it should be understand that the method may beimplemented using other systems and other system configurations then thesystem and configuration illustrated in FIG. 1 . The macro base stationoperates in the same 3.5 GHz band as the CBRS network.

The method 1100 shown in FIG. 11 will now be discussed in detail. Themethod starts in start step 1101 shown on FIG. 11A with the devices insystem 100 being initialized and becoming operational. Operationproceeds from step 1101 to step 1102.

In step 1102 the macro base station 1102 which is an MVNO eNodeB in thisexample and CBSD 1 106 and CBSD X 108 initiate registration with the SAS1 116. Operation proceeds from step 1102 to step 1104.

In step 1104, the macro base station 102 and CBSD 1 106 and CBSD X 108as part of their registration with SAS 1 116 report their respectivelocation to SAS 1 116. The macro base station as part of theregistration process with the SAS 1 116 reports not only its locationbut also its Internet Protocol (IP) address and the Physical CellIdentities (PCIs) of all of its sectors for example if it is amulti-sector site it will have more than one PCI associated with themacro base station. Operation proceeds from step 1104 to step 1106.

In step 1106 also as part of the registration process CBSD 1 106 andCBSD X 108 report the number of antennas they hold to the SAS 1 116.CBSD 1 106 reports that it holds 2 antennas and CBSD X 108 reports thatit holds 2 antennas. upon completion of the registration by the CBSD 1106 and CBSD X 108 with the SAS 1 116, the SAS 1 116 will be assignedspectrum by the SAS 1 116 for wireless communications. Operationproceeds from step 1106 to step 1108.

In step 1108, once the CSBD 1 106 and CBSD X 108 have received theirspectrum assignments from the SAS 1 116, the CBSDs will start servingthe user devices of its subscribers including UE 1 110. CBSD 1 106 andCBSD X 108 will request the dual SIM user equipment devices to reportthe Physical Cell Identities (PCIs) of macro base stations e.g., MVNOeNodeBs, from which the user equipment devices are receiving signals.Operation proceeds from step 1108 to step 1109.

In step 1109, each CBSD, i.e., CBSD 1 106 and CBSD X 108, report thePCIs of the macro base stations reported from the user equipment devicesto the SAS 1 116. Operation proceeds from step 1109 to step 1110.

In step 1110, SAS 1 116 determines how many and which CBSDs are in themacro base station, MVNO eNodeB, coverage age. In some embodiments theSAS 1 116 makes this determination based on the CBSDs reported locationsagainst or with the macro base stations reported location. In someembodiments, the SAS 1 116 also makes the determination based on macrobase station, e.g., MVNO eNodeB, PCIs in order to determine how many ofthe CBSDs are in the cell coverage area of the macro base station. Forexample, SAS 1 116 can determine the CBSDs which are located in a 500meter radius of the macro base station. Operation from step 1110 to step1112.

In step 1112, the SAS 1 116 selects the CBSDs that are in the coveragearea of the macro base station, e.g., those CBSDs that were identifiedas being within a predetermined geographical range of the macro basestation, e.g., within a 500 meter radius, and/or CBSDs which reportedPCI information corresponding to the macro base station. In thisexample, CBSD 1 106 and CBSD X 108 are both selected as both are withinthe coverage area of the macro base station. Operation proceeds fromstep 1112 to step 1114.

In step 1114, SAS 1 116 instructs each of the selected CBSDs (CBSD 1 106and CBSD X 108) to make an X2 connection with macro base station 102 bysending the IP address of the macro base station to the selected CBSDs.Operation proceeds from step 1114 to step 1116.

In step 1116, each of the selected CBSDs (i.e., in this example CBSD 1106 and CBSD X 108) in response to receiving the instruction to make anX2 connection with the macro base station, MVNO eNodeB, 102 attempts tomake an X2 connection with macro base station 102. Operation proceedsfrom step 1116 to decision step 1118.

In decision step 1118, each CBSD that attempted to make an X2 connectionwith the macro base station 102 as instructed by the SAS 1 116 makes adetermination as to whether the X2 connection has been successfullyestablished. When the determination is that the X2 connection betweenthe CBSD and the macro base station has been successfully establishedoperation proceeds from step 1118 to step 1120. When the CBSD determinesthat the X2 connection has not been successfully established operationproceeds from step 1118 to step 1134. In step 1134, each CBSD that wasnot able to successful establish an X2 connection with the macro basestation 102 transmits a message to SAS 1 116 information the SAS 1 116of the status of the connection, i.e. that the X2 connection attempt hasnot been successful. Operation proceeds from step 1134 to step 1136. Instep 1136, each selected CBSD that has not been able to successfulestablish an X2 connection with the maco base station 102 repeatedlytries to establish an X2 connection with the macro base station 102until the X2 connection is successful or a maximum number of attempts Nis reached. Operation proceeds from step 1136 to decision step 1138.

In decision step 1138, each of the selected CBSDs which were not able tosuccessfully establish an X2 connection with the macro base station 102in step 1116 determine whether they were able to successful establish anX2 connection in step 1136. If the selected CBSD was not able toestablish a successfully X2 connection in step 1136 operation proceedsto step 1144. If the selected CBSD was able to establish a successful X2connection in step 1136 operation proceeds to step 1140. The decisionstep 1138 may be performed after each attempt in step 1136 until asuccessful X2 connection is made by the CBSD or the N number of attemptshas been reached.

In step 1142, each selected CBSD which was not able to make a successfulX2 connection with the macro base station 102 after N number attemptstransmits a message to the SAS 1 116 informing the SAS 1 116 of itsfailure to make an X2 connection after N attempts. Operation proceedsfrom step 1142 to step 1144.

In step 1144, for each selected CBSD that reported that it wasunsuccessfully in establishing an X2 connection with the macro basestation 102 after N attempts, SAS 1 1116 selects a different CBSD withinthe coverage range of the macro base station 102 which had not beenpreviously selected in place of the CBSD that had been selected butwhich was not successful in establishing an X2 connection with the macrobase station 102. This assumes that there are additional CBSDs in thecoverage range that were not previously selected by the SAS 1 116.Operation proceeds from step 1144 to step 1114 and the process continueswith respect to the CBSDs selected by SAS 1 116 in step 1144.

In step 1140, each of the selected CBSDs which were able to successfullyform an X2 connection with the macro base station 102 in step 1136transmits a message to the SAS 1 116 informing the SAS 1 116 that it hassuccessfully established an X2 connection with the macro base station102. Operation proceeds from step 1140 to step 1122.

Returning to step 1120, each of the selected CBSDs which were able tosuccessfully form an X2 connection with the macro base station 102 instep 1116 as determined in step 1118 transmits a message to the SAS 1116 informing the SAS 1 116 that it has successfully established an X2connection with the macro base station 102. In the present example, boththe CBSD 1 106 and CBSD 2 108 successfully establish X2 connections withthe macro base station 102. Operation proceeds from step 1120 to step1122.

In step 1122, each selected CBSD measures the average X2 connection linklatency between itself and the macro base station 102. This may be, andin some embodiments is accomplished by using a simply traffic type testsuch as a ping. Each selected CBSD may, and in most embodiments do,store the result of the measurements in their memory. In this example,CBSD 1 106 and CBSX 2 108 each measure the average X2 connection latencyvia pinging operations to the macro base station 102. Operation proceedsfrom step 1122 to step 1124.

In step 1124 the macro base station 102 measures the average latency ofeach X2 connection/link established between itself and each of theselected CBSDs with which a successfully X2 connection has beenestablished between the selected CBSD and the macro base station 102.The macro base station 102 may determine the average X2 connection/linklatencies with each of the selected CBSDs to which an X2 connection hasbeen established through the use of ping operations. Operation proceedsfrom step 1124 to step 1126.

In step 1126, the macro base station 102 ranks the selected CBSDs withwhich an X2 connection has been successfully established based on theaverage delay measured of the X2 connection/link between the macro basestation and the selected CBSD. Operation proceeds from step 1126 to step1128.

In step 1128, each of the selected CBSDs (CBSD 1 106 and CBSD X 108 inthis example) report the number of antennas the CBSD has to the macrobase station 102. Operation proceeds from step 1128 to step 1130.

In step 1130, each of the selected CBSDs which has successfullyestablished a X2 connection with the macro base station 102 reports thePCIs it has received from UEs it is serving to the macro base station102. Operation proceeds from step 1130 via connection node A 1132 tostep 1146 shown on FIG. 11B.

In step 1146, the macro base station 102 further ranks the selectedCBSDs which have established an X2 connection with the macro basestation based on number of antennas. The macro base station 102 rankingin step 1146 will therefore be based on the number of antennas the CBSDhas and the average X2 connection/link latency between the CBSD and themacro base station 102. CBSDs will be ranked so that CBSDs with thehigher number of antennas and lower average X2 connection/link latencywill be ranked as the highest in the list. For example, a ranking listmay be generated in which the ranking from highest to lowest CBSD isbased first on the greater the number of antennas a CBSD the higher theranking and then ranking the CBSDs with the same number of antennasbased on the X2 connection delay with lower the X2 connection delay thehigher the ranking. For example, CBSD 1 106 has two antennas and CBSD X108 has two antennas and the CBSD 1 106 X2 connection has an average X2connection delay of 6 milliseconds and the CBSD X 108 X2 connection hasan average X2 connection delay of 7 milliseconds, the macro base station102 ranks CBSD 1 106 first (highest ranking) and CBSD X 108 second(lowest ranking) as they both have the same number of antennas and CBSDX 108 has a higher average X2 connection delay then CBSD 1 106. FIG. 2illustrates a table which may be, and in some embodiments is stored in arecord in the memory of the macro base station 102 that ranks the X2connections between the macro base station 102 and CBSD 1 106 and CBSD X108 based on the average X2 connection delay. Operation proceeds fromstep 1146 to step 1148.

In step 1148, the macro base station 102 receives a request transmittedfrom UE 1 110 requesting “Gold Service” quality. The request may be, andin some embodiments is, a Radio Resource Control (RRC) ConnectionReconfiguration Accept message sent to the macro base station inresponse to an RRC Connection Reconfiguration message or included in aRRC Connection Reconfiguration Accept message. The Gold Service qualitybeing a quality of service in which data is provided to the UE 1 110 ata higher rate than a normal or lower quality of service rate for exampleusing multiple antennas from both the macro base station 102 and theCBSDs having a coverage range including the UE 110. In this example, UE1 110 requests “Gold Service” quality. Operation proceeds from step 1148to 1150.

In step 1150, the macro base station 102 transmits a request to the UEswhich requested Gold Service to report the CBSDs PCIs the UEs areseeing/measuring a received signal from. In this example, macro basestation 102 transmits a request to the UE 1 110 to report the CBSDs PCIsthe UE from which UE 1 is receiving signals. Operation proceeds fromstep 1150 to step 1152.

In step 1152, each UE that requested “Gold Service” quality and has beenrequested to provide the CBSDs PCIs it is seeing/measuring receivedsignals from determines the CBSDs PCIs that it is seeing/measuringreceived signals from. In this example UE 1 110 determines that isseeing/measuring signals received from CBSD 1 106 and CBSD X 108 anddetermines the PCI for CBSD 1 106 and determines the PCI for CBSD X 108.In this example, the PCI for CBSD 1 106 will be referred to as PCI-A andthe PCI for CBSD X 108 will be referred to as PCI-B. Operation proceedsfrom step 1152 to step 1154.

In step 1154, each UE that received a request from the macro basestation 102 to report the PCIs of the CBSD whose signals it wasreceiving/seeing/measuring transmits/sends the PCIs of the CBSDs itdetermined to the macro base stations. Operation proceeds from step 1154to step 1156.

In step 1156, the macro base station 102 determines and/or estimates theamount of traffic that it will request from the MVNO core network fortransmission to UE 1 110 in connection with a UE 1 110 requestedservice, e.g., audio and/or video data to be provided in response to avideo on demand request. The determination and/or estimation is based onthe total number of antennas that the macro base station 102 hasavailable to transmit data to the UE 1 110. For example, the number ofantennas of each of the CBSDs with a PCI reported by the UE 1 110combined with the number of antennas the macro base station 102 has. Inthis example, the macro base station 102 has 4 antennas, CBSD 1 106 has2 antennas and CBSD X 108 has 2 antennas so the total number of antennasthat the macro base station 102 has available for use in transmission ofdata to the UE 1 110 is 8. The macro base station 102 that shouldrequest data for 8 antennas or twice as much data as it would request ifit was not using CBSD 1 106 and CBSD X 108 antennas to transmit data tothe UE 1 110 in addition to its four antennas. Operation proceeds fromstep 1156 to step 1158.

In step 1158, the macro base station 102 requests data from the MVNOnetwork core 104 to be transmitted to UE 1 110 for 8 antennas or twicemore than the amount it would request if it was not using the CBSD 1 106and CBSD X 108 to also transmit data to the UE 1 110. In this example,the MVNO network core is an Evolved Packet Core (EPC). Operationproceeds from step 1158 to step 1160.

In step 1160, the macro base 102 receives the requested data from theMVNO network core 104, e.g., from network services with data for UE 118.Operation proceeds from step 1160 to step 1162.

In step 1162, the macro base station 102 manages the traffic allocationto multiple X2 links based on the average X2 connection link delay. Insome embodiments, step 1162 includes one or more of sub-steps 1164 and1166. In sub-step 1164, the macro base station 102 allocates the totaldata received from the MVNO network core into segments for each devicewhich will be transmitted traffic, e.g., data, to the UE. In thisexample, macro base station 102 allocates the data received from theMVNO network into three segments as there are three devices, the MVNOmacro base station, CBSD 1 106 and CBSD X 108 which will transmit thedata to UE 1 110. In this example, the received data is divided intothree segments or blocks. The allocation is based on the number ofantennas each device that will be used to transmit the data to UE 1 110.In sub-step 1166, the macro base station encodes each of the datasegments or blocks using an orthogonal code. Each data segment or blockis coded so that it is independent of the other data segments or blocksfor purposes of transmission from different CBSDs before it iscommunicated over the X2 connection to the CBSDs. In some embodiments,the data segment or block format includes “UE Identifier, e.g., UEInternational Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI)”, “Data Segment/BlockNo”, “Data Segment/Block Size”, “Original Data/Retransmission Data”, andthe data to be transmitted. In sub-step 1166, the macro base station 102transmits the data segments or blocks to the CBSDs in the order ofhighest X2 connection/link delay to lowest X2 connection/link delay. Inthis example, The X2 connection/link average delay between the macrobase station 102 and the CBSD X 108 is 7 milliseconds (ms) and the X2connection/link average delay between the macro base station 102 and theCBSD 1 106 is 6 ms. As a result, in this example the macro base station102 first transmits the data segment/block allocated for CBSD X 108 toCBSD X 108 and then transmits the data segment/block allocated for CBSD1 106 to CBSD 1 106. Using this approach of transmitting the datasegments/blocks in order of highest X2 connection/link delays to lowestX2 connection/link delays results in the data segments/blocks reachingthe UE 1 110 at a desired time, e.g., at approximately the same time orwithin a 2 ms window. It should be noted that in some embodiments if theX2 connection/link average delays/latency are not within an allowablerange to meet the data transmission requirements the link is notselected for use in transmitting data from the macro base station 102 tothe CBSDs. Operation proceeds from step 1162 to step 1168.

In step 1168, the CBSDs upon receipt of the data segments/blockscommunicated from the macro base station 102 transmit the datasegments/blocks to the UEs. In this example, upon the receipt of thedata segment/block for the UE 1 110 from the macro base station 102 byCBSD 1 106, CBSD 1 106 transmits the data to the UE 1 110 using its twoantennas. Similarly, upon the CBSD X 108 receiving the datasegment/block for UE 1 110 from the macro base station 102, the CBSD X108 transmits the data to the UE 1 110 using it two antennas. The macrobase station 102 transmits the data segment/block it allocated to itselfand transmits the data to UE 1 110 using it four antennas after ittransmits the data segments/block to the CBSD 1 106 and CBSD X 108.Operation proceeds from step 1168 to decision step 1170.

In decision step 1170, the macro base station 102 determines whether alldata has been transmitted to UE 1 110. Upon a determination that alldata has finished being communicated to UE 1 110, operation proceedsfrom step 1170 to step 1172. When a determination is made that all datahas not finished being communicated to UE 1 110, operation proceeds tostep 1162 where the method proceeds as previously described with themacro base station 102 continues to manage the allocation andtransmission of traffic, e.g., data, to the UEs which in this example isUE 1 110.

In step 1172, once all of the traffic, e.g., data, has been transmittedto the UEs which in this example is UE 1 110, the X2 connection/linkswith the CBSDs remain active while the data session is terminated, e.g.,by the macro base station 102. In this way the X2 connections/linkestablished between the macro base station 102 and the CBSDs (CBSD 1 106and CBSD X 108) remain available for use in transmitting additional datato the UE 1 110 at a later time or to other UEs with dual SIM cards inthe coverage area of the macro base station 102 and CBSD 1 106 and CBSDX 108.

System 1200 of FIG. 12 illustrates another exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention. System 1200 includes a macro base station 1202 e.g.,MVNO LTE eNodeB, a mobile operator core network also referred to as amacro core network or macro network core 1204, a plurality of CitizensBroadband Radio Service Devices (CBSDs), CBSD A 1206, CBSD B 1208, andCBSD C 1210, a CBSD core network 1212, a Spectrum Access System 1216, auser equipment device (UE) 1214, and communications linkscoupling/connecting the various system elements together. Communicationslink 1236 couples the macro base station 1202 to the mobile operatorcore network 1204. Communications link 1238 the mobile operator network1204 to the CBSD core network 1212. Communications link 1240 couples theCBSD core network 1212 to the Spectrum Access System 1216. The CBSD corenetwork 1212 is coupled to the CBSD A 1206, CBSD B 1208 and CBSD C 1210via S1/X2 interface connections 1226, 1228, 1230 respectively. The macrobase station 1202 is coupled to CBSD A 1206, CBSD B 1208, and CBSD C1210 via X2 interface connections 1220, 1222, and 1224 respectively. TheUE 1214 is a dual SIM device that includes a first subscriber identitymodule (SIM) for communicating with the macro base station 1202 and asecond subscriber identity module (SIM) for communicating with the CBSDsof the CBSD network which include CBSD A 1206, CBSD B 1208, and CBSD C1210.

The UE 1214 is within the mobile cover range of the macro base station1202 and CBSD A 1206, CBSD B 1208 and CBSD C 1210. The macro basestation 1202 and the CBSDs A 1206, B 1208, and C 1210 are operating inthe same 3.5 GHz frequency spectrum.

Dashed line 1232 illustrates that UE 1214 registers with the mobileoperator core network 1204. The UE 1214 registers with the mobileoperator core network 1204 via the macro base station 1202. Dashed line1234 illustrates that UE 1214 in addition to registering with mobileoperator core network 1204 also registers with the CBSD core network1212. The UE 1214 registers with the CBSD core network 1212 via one ofthe plurality of CBSDs which include CBSD A 1206, CBSD B 1208, and CBSDC 1210.

The macro base station 1202 registers with the SAS 1216. CBSD A 1206,CBSD B 1208, and CBSD 1210 also register with the SAS 1216.

FIG. 13 illustrates the transmission of data to mobile UE 1214 frommacro base station 1202 via CBSD A 1206, CBSD B 1208, and CBSD 1210. Themacro base station 1202 determines that there are 16 antennas availablefor transmitting data to the UE 1214. Four antennas are available totransmit data to the UE 1214 from the macro base station 1202. Fourantennas are available to transmit data to the UE 1214 from the CBSD A1206. Four antennas are available to transmit data to the UE 1214 fromthe CBSD B 1208. Four antennas are available to transmit data to the UE1214 from the CBSD A 1210. The macro base station 1202 requests andreceives data from the mobile operator network 1204 illustrated in FIG.12 . The size of the amount of the data requested being based on thetotal number of antennas available for transmitting the data to the UE1214 which in this case is 16. Upon receiving the requested data, themacro base station encodes the data in N data segments or blocks, Nbeing the number of antennas 16. Each data block or segment is encodedby the macro base station 1202 so that each of the data blocks orsegments is independent of the other data blocks or segments forpurposes of transmission from different antennas.

The order of the blocks of data being transmitted to the CBSDs is basedon the average latency of the X2 connection between the macro basestation 1202 and the individual CBSDs to which data is beingtransmitted. Data is transmitted to the CBSDs from highest X2connection/link latency to lowest X2 connection/link latency. The macrobase station 1202 determines the X2 connection/link latency using pingoperations after the X2 connection between the macro base station 1202and the CBSD has been established.

FIG. 14 illustrates the determination of the X2 connection/link 1220latency using ping operations. The macro base station 1202 send pingpackets 1402, 1404, and 1406 over the X2 connection 1220 to the CBSD A1206. The CBSD A 1206 echoes back ping packets 1402′,1404′, and 1406′ tothe macro base station 1202. The macro base station 1202 determines theround trip time of the ping packets and measures the average delay ofthe X2 connection.

In this example, the X2 connection 1220 has an average delay of 1millisecond (ms), the X2 connection 1222 has an average delay of 2.1 ms,and the X2 connection has an average delay of 2 ms.

In this example, the order of transmission is that data is transmittedfirst to CBSD B 1208, then to CBSD C 1210 and finally to CBSD A 1206. Assuch, the first 4 encoded data blocks are allocated to the CBSD B whichhas 4 antennas and are transmitted to the CBSD B 1208 via the X2connection 1222 as represented by line 1304. The second 4 encoded datablocks are allocated to the CBSD C 1210 and are transmitted to the CBSDC 1210 via the X2 connection 1224 as represented by the line 1308. Thethird 4 encoded data blocks are allocated to the CBSD A 1206 and aretransmitted to the CBSD A 1206 via the X2 connection 1220 as representedby the line 1302.

Each of the CBSDs A 1206, B 1208 and C 1210 transmit the encoded datablocks via there antennas to the UE 1214 upon receiving the data blocks.The macro base station 1202 transmits the fourth 4 encoded data blocksto the UE 1214 using its 4 antennas. The macro base station 1202 may,and in some embodiments does, transmit its 4 data blocks to the UE 1214upon the completion of the transmission of the other data blocks to theCBSDs. Line 1310 represents the transmission of the last 4 encoded datablocks (data blocks 13, 14, 15 and 16) being transmitted from the 4antennas of the macro base station 1202 to the UE 1214. Line 1312represents the transmission of the data blocks 9, 10, 11, and 12 beingtransmitted from the 4 antennas of the CBSD A 1206 to the UE 1214. Line1314 represents the transmission of the data blocks 1, 2, 3, 4 beingtransmitted from the 4 antennas of the CBSD B 1208 to the UE 1214. Line1316 represents the transmission of the data blocks 5, 6, 7, and 8 beingtransmitted from the 4 antennas of the CBSD C 1210 to the UE 1214.

The ordering of the transmission of the data blocks to the CBSDs bylowest to highest X2 connection/link latency allows for the data to bereceived at the UE 1214 at about or around the same time or within anacceptable time window.

The methods 1000 illustrated in FIG. 10 and 1100 illustrated in FIG. 11may be, and in some embodiments are, implemented on the system 1200illustrated in FIG. 12 .

LIST OF EXEMPLARY NUMBERED METHOD EMBODIMENTS Method Embodiment 1

A communications method, the method comprising: operating a first macrobase station to receive a first set of data to be transmitted to a firstuser equipment device (UE); operating the first macro base station todivide said first set of data into a plurality of N data blocks; andcommunicating to each of a plurality of different Citizens BroadbandRadio Service Devices (CBSDs) one or more different ones of saidplurality of N data blocks (note the first macro base station can keepand send a block so the number of blocks to CBSDs can be less than Nwith the first macro base station transmitting at least one block, eachCBSD can receive more than one data block with N corresponding to the Nnumber of antennas which will be used to separately transmit data so ifa CBSD has two antennas it might receive two blocks for example); andoperating the plurality of CBSDs to transmit the one or more data blockswhich they receive from the first macro base station to the first UE.

Method Embodiment 2

The method embodiment of method embodiment 1, wherein said CBSDs andsaid first macro base station use the same frequency spectrum, saidfirst macro base station being part of a macro network, e.g., (LTEnetwork) and said CBSDs being part of a Citizens Broadcast Radio Service(CBRS) network.

Method Embodiment 3

The method of method embodiment 1 wherein said first UE is a dualSubscriber Identity Module (SIM) card UE capable of communicating withthe first macro network using a mobile identity corresponding to a firstSubscriber Identity Module (SIM) card and communicating with a CBRSnetwork including the CBSD using a mobile identity corresponding to thesecond Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card.

Method Embodiment 4

The method of method embodiment 1, further comprising: operating thefirst macro base station to encode each of the N data blocks using anorthogonal code (each block is coded so that it is independent of theother blocks for purposes of transmission from different CBSDs before itis communicated over the X2 connection to the CBSDs) prior to performingsaid step of communicating to each of a plurality of different CBSDs oneor more different ones of said plurality of N data blocks.

Method Embodiment 5

The method of method embodiment 1, further comprising: operating thefirst UE to report Physical Cell Identities (PCIs) of macro basestations from which first UE receive signals, said PCI of macro basestations including the PCI of the first macro base station; operating aSpectrum Access System (SAS) to determine from PCI information reportedby said first UE, CBSDs in the coverage area of said first macro basestation.

Method Embodiment 6

The method of method embodiment 5, further comprising: operating the SASto instruct CBSDs in the coverage area of the first macro base stationto establish X2 connections with the first macro base station.

Method Embodiment 7

The method of method embodiment 1, further comprising: operating CBSDsin the coverage area of said first macro base station to establish X2connections with said first macro base station, said plurality ofdifferent CBSDs being CBSDs with which X2 connections are establishedwith the first macro base station.

Method Embodiment 8

The method of method embodiment 7, further comprising: operating thefirst macro base station to measure latency of X2 connections to theCBSDs with which X2 connections are established; and whereincommunicating to each of a plurality of different CBSDs one or moredifferent ones of said plurality of N data blocks includes communicatingblocks to individual CBSDs in said plurality of different CBSDs in anorder based on the latency of an individual X2 connection between thefirst macro base station and the individual CBSD to which the individualX2 communication corresponds.

Method Embodiment 9

The method of method embodiment 8, wherein communicating to each of aplurality of different CBSDs one or more different ones of saidplurality of N data blocks includes communicating blocks of data toCBSDs with X2 links having a higher link latency than to CBSDs having X2links having a lower link latency.

Method Embodiment 10

The method of method embodiment 8, wherein communicating to each of aplurality of different CBSDs one or more different ones of saidplurality of N data blocks includes communicating blocks of data toCBSDs in the order of highest X2 connection link latency to lowest X2connection link latency.

Method Embodiment 11

The method of method embodiment 11, wherein the X2 connection/linklatency is the average X2 link latency.

Method Embodiment 12

The method of method embodiment 11 further comprising determining eachX2 connections link latency using ping operations.

Method Embodiment 13

The method of method embodiment 13, further comprising: determining atotal number of antennas to be used to communicate data to said firstUE; and wherein said N number of blocks of data is equal to the numberof antennas to be used to communicate to said first UE.

Method Embodiment 14

The method of method embodiment 13, further comprising: receiving (e.g.,from the SAS which receives CBSD antenna information from the CBSDs) atthe first macro base station information indicating a number of antennasavailable for use in transmitting to the first UE at each CBSD withwhich an X2 connection is established.

Method Embodiment 15

The method of method embodiment 13, further comprising: determining asize of a set of data, to be requested from a macro network core, fortransmission to the first UE based on the number of antennas availablefor use in transmitting to the first UE, said number of antennasavailable for use in transmitting including at least some CBSD antennasat CBSDs having X2 connections with the first macro base station; andrequesting the first set of data for transmission to the first UE, saidrequest for the first set of data including information on thedetermined size of the set of data.

Method Embodiment 16

The method of method embodiment 15, wherein said first set of data isreceived by the first macro base station in response to said request forthe set of data for transmission to the first UE.

LIST OF EXEMPLARY NUMBERED SYSTEM EMBODIMENTS System Embodiment 1

A communications system, the system comprising: a first macro basestation; and a plurality of different Citizens Broadband Radio ServiceDevices (CBSDs); said first macro base station including one or moreprocessors that control the first macro base station to: receive a firstset of data to be transmitted to a first user equipment device (UE),divide said first set of data into a plurality of N data blocks, andcommunicate to each of a plurality of different Citizens Broadband RadioService Devices (CBSDs) one or more different ones of said plurality ofN data blocks (note the first macro base station can keep and send ablock so the number of blocks to CBSDs can be less than N with the firstmacro base station transmitting at least one block, each CBSD canreceive more than one data block with N corresponding to the N number ofantennas which will be used to separately transmit data so if a CBSD hastwo antennas it might receive two blocks for example); and each of saidplurality of CBSDs including one or more processors that control theCBSD to transmit the one or more data blocks which the CBSD receivesfrom the first macro base station to the first UE.

System Embodiment 2

The communications system of system embodiment 1, wherein said CBSDs andsaid first macro base station use the same frequency spectrum, saidfirst macro base station being part of a macro network, e.g., (LTEnetwork) and said CBSDs being part of a Citizens Broadcast Radio Service(CBRS) network.

System Embodiment 3

The communications system of system embodiment 1 wherein said first UEis a dual Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card UE capable ofcommunicating with the first macro network using a mobile identitycorresponding to a first Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card andcommunicating with a CBRS network including the CBSD using a mobileidentity corresponding to the second Subscriber Identity Module (SIM)card.

System Embodiment 4

The communication system of system embodiment 1, wherein said one ormore processor further control the first macro base station to encodeeach of the N data blocks using an orthogonal code (each block is codedso that it is independent of the other blocks for purposes oftransmission from different CBSDs before it is communicated over the X2connection to the CBSDs) prior to communicating to each of the pluralityof different CBSDs one or more different ones of said plurality of Ndata blocks.

System Embodiment 5

The communications system of system embodiment 1 further comprising: aSpectrum Access System (SAS); and wherein said first UE includes aprocessor that controls the first UE to report Physical Cell Identities(PCIs) of macro base stations from which the first UE receive signals,said PCI of macro base stations including the PCI of the first macrobase station; and wherein said Spectrum Access System (SAS) includes aprocessor controls the SAS to determine from PCI information reported bysaid first UE, CBSDs in the coverage area of said first macro basestation.

System Embodiment 6

The communications system of system embodiment 5, wherein said SASprocessor further controls the SAS to instruct CBSDs in the coveragearea of the first macro base station to establish X2 connections withthe first macro base station.

System Embodiment 7

The communications system of system embodiment 1, wherein the one ormore processors included in each of the CBSDs in the coverage area ofsaid first macro base station control the CBSDs to establish X2connections with said first macro base station, said plurality ofdifferent CBSDs being CBSDs with which X2 connections are establishedwith the first macro base station.

System Embodiment 8

The communications system of system embodiment 7, wherein the firstmacro base station is further controlled by the one or more processorsto measure latency of X2 connections to the CBSDs with which X2connections are established and wherein the first macro base stations aspart of being controlled to communicate to each of a plurality ofdifferent CBSDs one or more different ones of said plurality of N datablocks is controlled to communicate blocks to individual CBSDs in saidplurality of different CBSDs in an order based on the latency of anindividual X2 connection between the first macro base station and theindividual CBSD to which the individual X2 communication corresponds.

System Embodiment 9

The communications system of system embodiment 8, wherein to communicateto each of a plurality of different CBSDs one or more different ones ofsaid plurality of N data blocks includes communicating blocks of data toCBSDs with X2 links having a higher link latency than to CBSDs having X2links having a lower link latency.

System Embodiment 10

The communication system of system embodiment 8, wherein to communicateto each of a plurality of different CBSDs one or more different ones ofsaid plurality of N data blocks includes communicating blocks of data toCBSDs in the order of highest X2 connection link latency to lowest X2connection link latency.

System Embodiment 11

The communications system of system embodiment 10, wherein the X2connection/link latency is the average X2 link latency.

System Embodiment 12

The communications system of system embodiment 11 wherein said firstmacro base station is further controlled by said one or more processorsto determine each X2 connections link latency using ping operations.

System Embodiment 13

The communications system of system embodiment 8, wherein said one ormore processors included in said first macro base station control thefirst macro base station to determine a total number of antennas to beused to communicate data to said first UE; and wherein said N number ofblocks of data is equal to the number of antennas to be used tocommunicate to said first UE.

System Embodiment 14

The communications system of system embodiment 13, wherein said firstmacro base station is controlled by said one or more processors includedin said first macro base station to receive (e.g., from the SAS whichreceives CBSD antenna information from the CBSDs) at the first macrobase station information indicating a number of antennas available foruse in transmitting to the first UE at each CBSD with which an X2connection is established.

System Embodiment 15

The communications system of system embodiment 13, wherein said firstmacro base station is further controlled by said one or more processorsincluded in said first macro base station to: determine a size of a setof data, to be requested from a macro network core, for transmission tothe first UE based on the number of antennas available for use intransmitting to the first UE, said number of antennas available for usein transmitting including at least some CBSD antennas at CBSDs having X2connections with the first macro base station; and request the first setof data for transmission to the first UE, said request for the first setof data including information on the determined size of the set of data.

System Embodiment 16

The communications system of system embodiment 15, wherein said firstset of data is received by the first macro base station in response tosaid request for the set of data for transmission to the first UE.

LIST OF EXEMPLARY NUMBERED COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM EMBODIMENTS ComputerReadable Medium Embodiment 1

A first non-transitory computer readable medium including a first set ofcomputer executable instructions and a second non-transitory computerreadable medium including a second set of computer readableinstructions, said first set of computer readable instructions whichwhen executed by a processor of a first macro base station control thefirst macro base station to: receive a first set of data to betransmitted to a first user equipment device (UE), divide said first setof data into a plurality of N data blocks, and communicate to each of aplurality of different Citizens Broadband Radio Service Devices (CBSDs)one or more different ones of said plurality of N data blocks; and thesecond set of computer readable instructions which when executed by aprocessor of a Citizens Broadband Radio Service Device (CBSD) cause thefirst CBSD to transmit the one or more data blocks which the CBSDreceives from the first macro base station to the first UE.

Computer Readable Medium Embodiment 2

The computer readable mediums of computer readable medium embodiment 1wherein said first set of instructions further includes instructionswhich when executed by said processor of the first macro base stationcontrol the first macro base station to further control the first macrobase station to encode each of the N data blocks using an orthogonalcode prior to communicating to each of the plurality of different CBSDsone or more different ones of said plurality of N data blocks.

The techniques of various embodiments may be implemented using software,hardware and/or a combination of software and hardware. Variousembodiments are directed to apparatus, e.g., macro base station, eNodeB,CBSD, user equipment devices, mobile devices, SAS, Serving, registrars,mobility management entities, network nodes, and/or network equipmentdevices. Various embodiments are also directed to methods, e.g., methodof controlling and/or operating macro base stations, eNodeBs, CBSDdevices, network nodes, SAS, nodes, servers, user equipment devices,controllers, mobility management entities or network equipment devices.Various embodiments are also directed to machine, e.g., computer,readable medium, e.g., ROM, RAM, CDs, hard discs, etc., which includemachine readable instructions for controlling a machine to implement oneor more steps of a method. The computer readable medium is, e.g.,non-transitory computer readable medium.

It is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in theprocesses and methods disclosed is an example of exemplary approaches.Based upon design preferences, it is understood that the specific orderor hierarchy of steps in the processes and methods may be rearrangedwhile remaining within the scope of the present disclosure. Theaccompanying method claims present elements of the various steps in asample order, and are not meant to be limited to the specific order orhierarchy presented. In some embodiments, one or more processors areused to carry out one or more steps of the each of the describedmethods.

In various embodiments each of the steps or elements of a method areimplemented using one or more processors. In some embodiments, each ofthe elements or steps are implemented using hardware circuitry.

In various embodiments devices, servers, nodes and/or elements describedherein are implemented using one or more components to perform the stepscorresponding to one or more methods, for example, message reception,signal processing, sending, comparing, determining and/or transmissionsteps. Thus, in some embodiments various features are implemented usingcomponents or in some embodiments logic such as for example logiccircuits. Such components may be implemented using software, hardware ora combination of software and hardware. Many of the above describedmethods or method steps can be implemented using machine executableinstructions, such as software, included in a machine readable mediumsuch as a memory device, e.g., RAM, floppy disk, etc. to control amachine, e.g., general purpose computer with or without additionalhardware, to implement all or portions of the above described methods,e.g., in one or more devices, servers, nodes and/or elements.Accordingly, among other things, various embodiments are directed to amachine-readable medium, e.g., a non-transitory computer readablemedium, including machine executable instructions for causing a machine,e.g., processor and associated hardware, to perform one or more of thesteps of the above-described method(s). Some embodiments are directed toa device, e.g., a controller, including a processor configured toimplement one, multiple or all of the steps of one or more methods ofthe invention.

In some embodiments, the processor or processors, e.g., CPUs, of one ormore devices, e.g., communications nodes such as CBSD, UEs, SAS, macrobase stations, eNodeBs, registrars, HSS servers, network servicedevices, video content servers are configured to perform the steps ofthe methods described as being performed by the CBSD, UEs, SAS, macrobase stations, eNodeBs, registrars, HSS servers, network servicedevices, video content servers. The configuration of the processor maybe achieved by using one or more components, e.g., software components,to control processor configuration and/or by including hardware in theprocessor, e.g., hardware components, to perform the recited stepsand/or control processor configuration. Accordingly, some but not allembodiments are directed to a device, e.g., CBSD, UE, SAS, macro basestation, eNodeB, registrar, HSS server, network service device, videocontent server, with a processor which includes a componentcorresponding to each of the steps of the various described methodsperformed by the device in which the processor is included. In some butnot all embodiments a device, e.g., CBSD, UE, SAS, macro base station,eNodeB, registrar, HSS server, network service device, video contentserver, includes a processor corresponding to each of the steps of thevarious described methods performed by the device in which the processoris included. The components may be implemented using software and/orhardware.

Some embodiments are directed to a computer program product comprising acomputer-readable medium, e.g., a non-transitory computer-readablemedium, comprising code for causing a computer, or multiple computers,to implement various functions, steps, acts and/or operations, e.g. oneor more steps described above. Depending on the embodiment, the computerprogram product can, and sometimes does, include different code for eachstep to be performed. Thus, the computer program product may, andsometimes does, include code for each individual step of a method, e.g.,a method of controlling a node, CBSD, UE, SAS, macro base station,eNodeB, registrar, HSS server, network service device, video contentserver. The code may be in the form of machine, e.g., computer,executable instructions stored on a computer-readable medium, e.g., anon-transitory computer-readable medium, such as a RAM (Random AccessMemory), ROM (Read Only Memory) or other type of storage device. Inaddition to being directed to a computer program product, someembodiments are directed to a processor configured to implement one ormore of the various functions, steps, acts and/or operations of one ormore methods described above. Accordingly, some embodiments are directedto a processor, e.g., CPU, configured to implement some or all of thesteps of the methods described herein. The processor may be for use in,e.g., a communications device such as a CBSD, UE or other devicedescribed in the present application.

Numerous additional variations on the methods and apparatus of thevarious embodiments described above will be apparent to those skilled inthe art in view of the above description. Such variations are to beconsidered within the scope. Numerous additional embodiments, within thescope of the present invention, will be apparent to those of ordinaryskill in the art in view of the above description and the claims whichfollow. Such variations are to be considered within the scope of theinvention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A communications method, the method comprising:establishing by a first macro base station an X2 connection with each ofa plurality of wireless base stations operating in a coverage area ofthe first macro base station; operating the first macro base station toreceive a first set of data to be transmitted to a first user equipmentdevice (UE); operating the first macro base station to divide said firstset of data into a plurality of N data blocks, N being a positiveinteger number greater than one; communicating from the first macro basestation to one or more of the plurality of wireless base stations one ormore different ones of said plurality of N data blocks using saidestablished X2 connections; operating the first macro base station toencode each of the N data blocks using an orthogonal code prior toperforming said step of communicating to one or more of the plurality ofwireless base stations one or more different ones of said plurality of Ndata blocks; and operating the plurality of wireless base stations totransmit the one or more data blocks, which the wireless base stationsreceive from the first macro base station to the first UE.
 2. The methodof claim 1, wherein said first UE is a dual Subscriber Identity Module(SIM) card UE including a first Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cardand a second Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card; wherein said firstUE communicates with a first macro network using a mobile identitycorresponding to the first Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card, saidfirst macro network including the first macro base station; and whereinsaid first UE communicates with a second network using a mobile identitycorresponding to the second Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card, saidsecond network including the plurality of wireless base stations.
 3. Themethod of claim 1, wherein communicating from the first macro basestation to one or more of the plurality of wireless base stations one ormore different ones of said plurality of N data blocks includescommunicating blocks of data to wireless base stations with X2 linkshaving a higher link latency prior to communicating blocks of data towireless base stations having X2 links having a lower link latency. 4.The communications method of claim 1, wherein the first macro basestation also communicates one or more of the N data blocks to the firstuser equipment device, said one or more of the N data blockscommunicated by the first macro base station to the first user equipmentdevice being different than the data blocks communicated to the wirelessbase stations.
 5. The communications method of claim 1, furthercomprising: determining, by the first macro base station, the pluralityof different wireless base stations to which the one or more differentones of said plurality of N data blocks are communicated based at leastin part on Physical Cell Identities (PCIs) of wireless base stationsreported to the first macro base station by the first user equipmentdevice.
 6. A communications method, the method comprising: establishingby a first macro base station an X2 connection with each of a pluralityof wireless base stations operating in a coverage area of the firstmacro base station: operating the first macro base station to measurelatency of the X2 connections to the wireless base stations with whichX2 connections are established; operating the first macro base stationto receive a first set of data to be transmitted to a first userequipment device (UE); operating the first macro base station to dividesaid first set of data into a plurality of N data blocks, N being apositive integer number greater than one; communicating from the firstmacro base station to one or more of the plurality of wireless basestations one or more different ones of said plurality of N data blocksusing said established X2 connections; operating the plurality ofwireless base stations to transmit the one or more data blocks, whichthe wireless base stations receive from the first macro base station, tothe first UE; and wherein communicating from the first macro basestation to one or more of the plurality of wireless base stations one ormore different ones of said plurality of N data blocks includescommunicating blocks of data to individual wireless base stations in theplurality of wireless base stations in an order based on the latency ofan individual X2 connection between the first macro base station and theindividual wireless base station to which the individual X2 connectioncorresponds.
 7. The method of claim 6, further comprising: determining atotal number of antennas to be used to communicate data to said firstUE; and wherein said N number of blocks of data is equal to the numberof antennas to be used to communicate to said first UE.
 8. The method ofclaim 7, further comprising: receiving at the first macro base stationinformation indicating a number of antennas available for use intransmitting to the first UE at each wireless base station with which anX2 connection is established.
 9. The method of claim 7, furthercomprising: determining a size of a set of data, to be requested from amacro network core, for transmission to the first UE based on the numberof antennas available for use in transmitting to the first UE, saidnumber of antennas available for use in transmitting including at leastsome wireless base station antennas at wireless base stations having X2connections with the first macro base station; and requesting the firstset of data for transmission to the first UE, said request for the firstset of data including information on the determined size of the set ofdata.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein said first set of data isreceived by the first macro base station in response to said request forthe first set of data for transmission to the first UE.
 11. Thecommunications method of claim 6, wherein said first UE is a dualSubscriber Identity Module (SIM) card UE which communicates with thefirst macro base station using a mobile identity corresponding to afirst Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card and communicates with theplurality of different wireless base stations using a mobile identitycorresponding to a second Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card.
 12. Acommunications system, the system comprising: a first macro basestation; and a plurality of wireless base stations in a coverage area ofthe first macro base station, each of the plurality of wireless basestations in the coverage area of the first macro base station includingone or more processors that control the wireless base station toestablish an X2 connection with said first macro base station; saidfirst macro base station including one or more processors that controlthe first macro base station to: receive a first set of data to betransmitted to a first user equipment device (UE), divide said first setof data into a plurality of N data blocks, N being an integer greaterthan one, and communicate to one or more of the plurality of wirelessbase stations one or more different ones of said plurality of N datablocks; and wherein each of said plurality of wireless base stationswhich receives from the first macro base station one or more of theplurality of N data blocks is controlled by the one or more processorsthat control the wireless base station to transmit the received one ormore data blocks to the first UE; and wherein said one or moreprocessors included in the first macro base station further control thefirst macro base station to encode each of the N data blocks using anorthogonal code prior to communicating to one or more of the pluralityof wireless base stations one or more different ones of said pluralityof N data blocks.
 13. The communications system of claim 12, whereinsaid first UE is a dual Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card UEincluding a first Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card and a secondSubscriber Identity Module (SIM) card; wherein said first UEcommunicates with a first macro network using a mobile identitycorresponding to the first Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card, saidfirst macro network including the first macro base station; and whereinsaid first UE communicates with a second network using a mobile identitycorresponding to the second Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card, saidsecond network including the plurality of wireless base stations. 14.The communications system of claim 12, wherein to communicate to one ormore of the plurality of wireless base stations one or more differentones of said plurality of N data blocks includes communicating blocks ofdata to wireless base stations with X2 links having a higher linklatency prior to communicating blocks of data to wireless base stationshaving X2 links having a lower link latency.
 15. The communicationssystem of claim 12, wherein said one or more processors included in saidfirst macro base station control the first macro base station todetermine a total number of antennas to be used to communicate data tosaid first UE; and wherein said N number of blocks of data is equal tothe number of antennas to be used to communicate to said first UE. 16.The communications system of claim 15, wherein said first macro basestation is controlled by said one or more processors included in saidfirst macro base station to receive at the first macro base stationinformation indicating a number of antennas available for use intransmitting to the first UE at each wireless base station with which anX2 connection is established.
 17. The communications system of claim 15,wherein said first macro base station is further controlled by said oneor more processors included in said first macro base station to:determine a size of a set of data, to be requested from a macro networkcore, for transmission to the first UE based on the number of antennasavailable for use in transmitting to the first UE, said number ofantennas available for use in transmitting including at least somewireless base station antennas at wireless base stations having X2connections with the first macro base station; and request the first setof data for transmission to the first UE, said request for the first setof data including information on the determined size of the set of data.18. The communications system of claim 17, wherein said first set ofdata is received by the first macro base station in response to saidrequest for the first set of data for transmission to the first UE. 19.A communications system, the system comprising: a first macro basestation; and a plurality of wireless base stations in a coverage area ofthe first macro base station, each of the plurality of wireless basestations in the coverage area of the first macro base station includingone or more processors that control the wireless base station toestablish an X2 connection with said first macro base station, saidfirst macro base station including one or more processors that controlthe first macro base station to: receive a first set of data to betransmitted to a first user equipment device (UE), divide said first setof data into a plurality of N data blocks, N being an integer greaterthan one, and communicate to one or more of the plurality of wirelessbase stations one or more different ones of said plurality of N datablocks; and wherein each of said plurality of wireless base stationswhich receives from the first macro base station one or more of theplurality of N data blocks is controlled by the one or more processorsthat control the wireless base station to transmit the received one ormore data blocks to the first UE; and wherein the first macro basestation is further controlled by the one or more processors included inthe first macro base station to measure latency of X2 connections to thewireless base stations with which X2 connections have been established;and wherein the first macro base station as part of being controlled tocommunicate to one or more of the plurality of wireless base stationsone or more different ones of said plurality of N data blocks iscontrolled to communicate blocks of data to individual wireless basestations in said plurality of wireless base stations in an order basedon the latency of an individual X2 connection between the first macrobase station and the individual wireless base station to which theindividual X2 connection corresponds.
 20. A first non-transitorycomputer readable medium including a first set of computer executableinstructions and a second non-transitory computer readable mediumincluding a second set of computer readable instructions, said first setof computer readable instructions which when executed by a processor ofa first macro base station control the first macro base station to:establish X2 connections with a plurality of wireless base stations in acoverage area of the first macro base station; receive a first set ofdata to be transmitted to a first user equipment device (UE); dividesaid first set of data into a plurality of N data blocks; andcommunicate to one or more wireless base stations of the plurality ofwireless base stations within the coverage area of the first macro basestation one or more different ones of said plurality of N data blocks, Nbeing an integer greater than one; and the second set of computerreadable instructions which when executed by a processor of a firstwireless base station cause the first wireless base station to transmitone or more data blocks which the first wireless base station receivesfrom the first macro base station to the first UE, said first wirelessbase station being one of the plurality of wireless base stations towhich the one or more different ones of said plurality of N data blocksis communicated; and wherein said first set of instructions furtherincludes instructions which when executed by said processor of the firstmacro base station control the first macro base station to encode eachof the N data blocks using an orthogonal code prior to communicating toone or more of the plurality of wireless base stations one or moredifferent ones of said plurality of N data blocks.